Several Texas highschool soccer gamers have been hospitalized after their coach reportedly pressured them to do 400 push-ups as punishment, a number of retailers report.
The head soccer coach at Rockwall-Heath High School, John Harrell, has since been suspended and positioned on administrative depart after a bunch of his gamers required medical consideration throughout an low season exercise final Friday (Jan. 6), in keeping with Fox News 4.
High School Football Coach Accused Of Punishing Players With “Large Number Of Push-Ups”
Harrell is accused of demanding the scholars do “numerous push-ups as a option to self-discipline gamers. The head coach has been with this system since 2019.
Meanwhile, college principal Todd Bradford despatched a letter to folks confirming that some college students “needed medical attention” with “some” even requiring hospitalization.
At least eight gamers have been despatched to the hospital, the Dallas Morning News stories.
This is a photograph of Coach John Harrell taken by Rockwall ISD when he was employed.
A supply near the staff informed me student-athletes have been pressured to do virtually 400 push-ups over a 60-minute athletics interval as punishment.
District would not inform me what number of have been hospitalized. pic.twitter.com/35qbwPUuNC
— Matt Howerton (@HowertonNews) January 11, 2023
One mum or dad of a participant who was hospitalized stated their youngster was recognized with rhabdomyolysis, a extreme medical situation that happens when broken muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the bloodstream. The situation may cause everlasting incapacity and even loss of life.
The mum or dad, who didn’t want to be recognized, informed the outlet that the staff needed to do tons of of push-ups inside simply an hours time.
Students Forced To Do Hundreds Of Push-Ups In An Hour, With No Water Or Breaks, Parent Says
The student-athletes have been additionally denied breaks and water too, the mum or dad added.
“[Coach Harrell’s] treated us with nothing but respect, and he loves every single one of us like his own,” Luff stated.
JUST IN: Rockwall-Heath’s varsity football coach, John Harrell, is now on administrative leave pending a third-party investigation after several students needed medical attention/hospitalization after an offseason workout last Friday.
This letter 👇🏻 was sent to parents today. pic.twitter.com/nL28qdGOZn
— Matt Howerton (@HowertonNews) January 10, 2023
School District Says It Has Hired Third Party To Investigate Claims, Place Coach On Administrative Leave
The college district, who’ve since employed an “independent third party” to analyze the claims, launched a press release saying the “district is also taking interim action” as that investigation performs out.
“The district is also taking interim action, including but not limited to, placing Coach Harrell on administrative leave while the investigation is pending and notifying appropriate outside agencies.”
The district added it has been in contact with the affected households and athletes.