WORCESTER - The remainder of the Worcester Technical High School football team's season has been canceled after allegations of hazing in the team's locker room.

At least five of the football players are barred from classes pending the outcome of disciplinary hearings, which must be held after two days of emergency removal from school, to determine whether they were involved in alleged hazing incidents.

School officials became aware of an incident that they said was video recorded and posted on social media after a guardian of a football player contacted Principal Kyle Brenner on Tuesday.

Superintendent Maureen Binienda and School Safety Director Robert Pezella said they immediately took action.

"We sat football players down and we asked them questions," Ms. Binienda said, adding that their investigation has shown there were assaults on students.

Mr. Pezzella said there are a combined total of more than 45 athletes on the varsity and junior varsity teams, in Grades 9 through 12.

Mr. Pezella and Ms. Binienda declined to say if the incident was sexual in nature, and they are investigating whether coaches were aware of any incidents. They couldn't say "with certainty" if older students were responsible for carrying out hazing-style activities on younger students, but said the incidents did not appear to be racially motivated.

"I actually asked a student that question, 'Tell me, is this a racial thing?' " Ms. Binienda said. "He said, 'Absolutely not.' It didn't even take a second to get that answer."

After a Thursday night meeting open only to parents of football players, one woman wept outside the school, while others consoled her and were heard apologizing for anything their children may have done. They declined to speak with a reporter.

About 22 parents attended the session, as did a prosecutor from Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.'s office, Worcester police and school officials.

Ms. Binienda said the district attorney's office will bring a specialized anti-hazing program to the school for football players and coaches to supplement training that the schools offer.

In addition, school officials are working with parents whose children may have been the victims of hazing and are trying to create an environment where they feel safe enough to come forward.

"Come forward," Ms. Binienda said, urging students to tell a parent or an adult such as a teacher or counselor they trust. She said adults who are made aware of incidents should report them.

At least five players have been singled out for disciplinary hearings, which may involve witnesses and lawyers as they are offered due process, and there could be more students affected, Ms. Binienda said.

"We need to get on these kids and stop it," she said.

In the Worcester schools, cyberbullying is the No. 1 method of bullying, Mr. Pezzella said. While the video that surfaced may help investigators, it further hurts alleged victims because others may have viewed it, Ms. Binienda said.

Ms. Binienda called on those who saw the incidents unfolding to report them as well. "If you see something and you don't report it, then you're part of it," she said.

Worcester police Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst said the police department is also looking into the alleged incident that led to the game cancellations. Any students who are 18 or older could be charged in court as adults under state law, he said.

“If at some point in this investigation, either by the school or by us, it was determined that there was some level of criminal wrongdoing involved, then we will take the appropriate actions,” he said.

Cancellation of the last two games of the season is disappointing beyond the walls of Worcester Tech.

Worcester Tech’s varsity team, which is 1-8 so far this year, had been scheduled to play David Prouty on Friday night and then Abby Kelley Foster Charter School on Nov. 21 for the Thanksgiving game.

Pat Rossi, coach of David Prouty’s varsity team, said he had no comment about the situation, other than to say he was “disappointed our program won’t be able to play a game this week. It’s disappointing our kids will be out a game.”

- Scott O'Connell of the Telegram & Gazette staff contributed to this report.