As fall sports seasons kick off in many states, students have been exposed to extreme heat and the dangers that accompany rising temperatures. It is no different at Woodland Hills High School in Churchill, Pa., where several members of the girls' volleyball team came home with burns and blisters on their hands after touching the hot outdoor track.
According to the students, their coach made the team do a lap of burpees and a second lap of bear crawls around the outdoor track as a punishment for not completing their at-home workouts. Students and parents said the coach wanted videos of the students doing sit-ups and push-ups at home.
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"It's 95 degrees, and their hands are directly on the ground, on the rough ground, so all the girls were getting cuts and blisters on their hands. When they tried to ask if we could stop this or do it in the grass, they said that, if you ask again, you're going to get another lap," said Will Safran, parent of one of the affected students.
The coach had only been in their position for one month, and they are not an official school district employee. Parents are accusing the coach of putting their children’s health at risk after their actions at practice earlier this week.
In the wake of this incident, further practices were canceled, the parents of the girl’s volleyball team met with district officials and the coach resigned. According to WTAE 4 News, “the school's athletic director apologized to parents and that the team was looking for a new coach.”
In a statement, Daniel Castagna, superintendent said, “The District is aware, investigating and the matter is confidential.”
Woodland Hills High School volleyball isn’t the only group being negatively affected by the heat. Across the country, high school sports teams — particularly football — have been impacted by this year’s soaring temperatures. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke and injuries due to hot turf have all been on the rise.
