A Texas high school coach is on leave after some of his football players were hospitalized because they were forced to perform up to 400 push-ups in an hour as punishment.

Rockwall-Heath High School head football coach John Harrell is now on leave, the school said in a letter to parents, according to Dallas’ Fox station.

The alleged incident happened Friday during an athletic class.

According to the Dallas Morning News, a mother claims her son was forced to do 300 to 400 push-ups with no water breaks.

Her son was hospitalized and diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, which can cause kidney damage or failure, the paper reported. Per the report, at least eight students were hospitalized after the workout.

Brady Luff, captain on the football team, per Fox News, said he did not believe Harrell was punishing players, but it was “instilling discipline.”

Luff added that water was available for the players, and they were free to go if need be.

“He’s treated us with nothing but respect, and he loves every single one of us like his own,” Luff said.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.