Football player hospitalized after coach ordered 400 push-ups

Few Texas high school Soccer the players were hospitalized after their coach allegedly forced them to do 400 push-ups as punishment, multiple outlets reported.

Head coach of the football team at Rockwall-Heath High School, John Harrellhas since been suspended and placed on administrative leave after a group of his players needed medical attention during an off-season training session last Friday (January 6), according to Fox 4 News.

High school football coach accused of punishing players with ‘large number of push-ups’

Harrell was accused of asking the students to do “a large number of push-ups as a way to discipline the players. The head coach has been with the program since 2019.

Meanwhile, the school’s principal, Todd Bradford, has sent a letter to parents confirming that some students “need medical attention” and that “some” were even hospitalized.

At least eight players were sent to the hospital, Dallas Morning News report.

This is a photo of Coach John Harrell taken by Rockwall ISD when he was recruited.

A source close to the team told me that the student-athletes were forced to do nearly 400 push-ups in a 60-minute period of athletics as punishment.

The district did not tell me how many people were hospitalized. pic.twitter.com/35qbwPUuNC

— Matt Howerton (@HowertonNews) January 11, 2023

One parent of a hospitalized player said their child was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a serious medical condition that occurs when damaged muscle tissue releases proteins and electrolytes into the bloodstream. This condition can cause permanent disability and even death.

The unnamed parent told the news agency that the group had to do hundreds of push-ups in just an hour.

Students forced to do hundreds of push-ups in an hour without drinking water or taking breaks, parents say

The parent added that the student-athletes were also not allowed to take breaks and not drink water.