HENDRICKS COUNTY, Ind. — The hands of some Indiana high school athletes are bruised, blistered and bleeding in some cases.

These track athletes say their coaches made them "bear walk" on their hands around the outdoor track because the team skipped a practice before that school's prom.

Parents say the coaches took the punishment too far. 

"I was just disgusted. I couldn't believe they made the kids do what they did," said Tammy Rulfs, a mother of one of the athletes. "I mean, they could have disciplined them in a totally different way, added more laps to practice, whatever. But this was uncalled for."

The four coaches who are also teachers were not in school today for comment. School officials said they want parents to know the safety of their students is a top priority.