Aug 18, 2015 2 min read

Four California High School football players were transported to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC for various problems Monday, which was the first day of WPIAL football camps.

The identities of the players were not released.

With temperatures reaching the 90s, the first player collapsed after experiencing back pain during a conditioning session and the other three experienced different symptoms in the evening session, which was held without pads.

First-year head coach Darrin Dillow could not be reached for comment, but athletic director Chris Minerd released a statement Tuesday.

“We have learned that each individual case was very different and not all related to heat and dehydration,” Minerd said in the statement. “However, we are moving forward to ensure increased precautions which include additional hydration times, added cool down stations and altering practice sites when necessary.”

The Trojans returned to practice Tuesday, but it is not known whether the players who fell ill participated. Parents attended a meeting Tuesday evening to discuss safety procedures.

The incident followed a five-day heat acclimation period in which helmets and shoulder pads with shorts are permitted, but there was no contact allowed. The idea is to get high school athletes accustomed to working out in the heat, but temperatures were only in the 70s for much of the week.

“The coaches and trainer have emphasized the importance of hydration throughout practice and during scheduled hydration periods,” Minerd said. “The emphasis will now increase due to yesterday’s situation to help ensure the continued safety of our student athletes.”