There are lots of coaches in every sport that take punishing their athletes, the kids, too serious and they often don’t know when to let up.
The latest example comes from Rockwell Heath in Heath, Texas, just NE of Dallas, where head football coach John Harrell was placed on suspension after his punishment for his team went too far via The Dallas Morning News.
Multiple players were hospitalized after a workout punishment last week required the players to do 400 pushups.
A Heath parent, who didn’t want to be identified because of fear of retaliation, said her son has been hospitalized and diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a stress-induced muscle disorder that can damage cells and cause kidney damage and even failure in severe cases. She said her son was forced to do 300 to 400 push-ups with no water breaks Friday.
Two more Heath parents told The Dallas Morning News the students did more than 350 pushups. One of the parents said it was during a 60-minute timeframe.
A Tuesday letter sent by Rockwall-Heath principal Todd Bradford said several students “needed medical attention, and in some cases, hospitalization,” and that Harrell was placed on administrative leave while a third party investigates. The letter confirmed the incident occurred during an eighth-period athletic class.
Two Heath parents said at least eight students were hospitalized, according to conversations they’ve had with other parents.
The letter went on to say that at the beginning of Monday’s athletic class, the campus athletic trainer advised student-athletes to see the trainer should they experience any of the following symptoms: unable to bend or extend arms, unable to lift arms above head, dark urine and sharp arm pain.
The Rockwell ISD athletic director said that they are addressing the matter and are using a third party to investigate and Harrell was placed on administrative leave while the investigation goes on.
This is child abuse and should be treated as such.
Flip the page for more.