Mother says coaches put team at risk

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - Rachel Hall has two daughters at Marble Falls High School. Both are stand-out athletes in multiple sports, but she recently pulled them out of the volleyball program in the middle of the season.

"I pulled them off the team," said Hall. "Absolutely not are they ever going to play for those coaches again. I do not trust them with the welfare of my children at all."

It all goes back to September 20 when Hall picked her 14-year-old, Reann, up from freshman practice.

"I said, 'What is wrong? Your eyes are not clear, your skin doesn't look good, your face doesn't look good. What's wrong with you?' And she said, 'Mom, they made us practice in the gas.'"

Her daughter claims the entire junior varsity and freshman teams worked out for an hour and half with natural gas in the air.

Assistant Superintendent Allen Roberts told KXAN News that morning, a school maintenance crew was changing out a unit that heats up water for the showers. During the "routine" procedure Roberts said some natural gas leaked out of the pipes and left a bad odor in the gym.

"We kept everyone out of gym until the air was ok," said Roberts. "We didn’t let anyone in until it was deemed safe."

Roberts said the coaches felt it was safe to practice later that afternoon. Hall's daughter said coaches had to prop open the gym doors for ventilation, and told the girls they could step outside for fresh air.

"We would not put a student in any type of a life threatening situation at all," said Roberts.

Hall snapped a picture of a sign posted on the gym doors later that night alerting a little dribblers team their practice had been moved. Schools officials also told Hall the gym was closed to students the following day.

Hall has taken her daughter to the doctor several times since the practice. She said her daughter experienced sores in her mouth and missed two days of school.

"She complained of the burning in her nose, throat and mouth from that night on," said Hall. "It hurt her to breathe at all and it hurt her to breathe deeply."

Hall met with school officials, but is not satisfied with their investigation of the coaches actions. The superintendent told her they would be reprimanded.

"They're going to have a note in their file and they could have easily killed these girls," said Hall.

The mother is in the process of filing an official grievance with the Marble Falls school district and the Texas Education Agency .

Exposure to natural gas

An emergency room doctor with Scott and White told KXAN News anytime someone smells natural gas, they should leave the area immediately.

Breathing in high concentrations of the fumes can cause dizziness, headaches, vomiting, unconsciousness and ultimately death.

Increased physical activity will make those symptoms worse faster because the body requires more oxygen.