An athletic trainer's duties consist of the implementation of an injury prevention program and the initiation of immediate treatment and rehabilitation procedures for the injured athlete as directed by the team physician. He or she is the person you see down on the field or sitting on the bench close to the large first aid kit. Long before the contest, the trainer has prepared the participants, taping some and providing therapy for others. He or she will stay after the game, providing services as needed.
Specifically, trainers engage in the following activities:
Selecting proper equipment in cooperation with the coaching staff and the equipment manager
In this regard, new developments-such as those in pediatrics or dentistry-should be reported to the coaching staff.
Supervising safety factors involving playing areas-that is, the removal of items players may run into and the repair of equipment constituting a safety hazard.
Assisting in the application of injury preventive devices, such as helping and assisting with braces and similar gear and reminding athletes to utilize such equipment if necessary. Planning a conditioning and injury prevention program with the coaching staff and other sports medicine personnel.
Maintaining the athletic training area and its equipment, including ordering supplies, supervising the servicing of equipment, and keeping careful health records.
Administering first aid to injured athletes
This would involve both minor problems, like a sprained ankle, and major difficulties requiring transporting the player to a hospital.
Developing and supervising a rehabilitation program under the supervision of a physician
This duty would include monitoring the use of exercises shown to the athlete, and it may involve the utilization of ultrasound or the whirlpool.
Reporting to the coach and physician the rehabilitation progress of the athlete
This involves the gain of strength in the affected area as measured by technical equipment. This is one of the most important tasks of the trainer, as it involves determining how soon the injured player may return to action. Serving as an executive and educator, as an administrator, the trainer maintains a budget, develops a student trainers program, and supervises the student trainers. In a major athletic program, there is a head trainer, and he or she has a staff of assistant athletic trainers.
Establishing and maintaining good interpersonal relationships with the coaching staff, the sports medicine consultants, and the players. The trainer serves as the head of the control center.
Telephone calls come in on the deposition of X rays taken of an injured athlete, coaches call to make requests about certain safety equipment newly available, and parents call to ask about an injury their child suffered; similar other requests regularly arrive. It's not a career for someone looking for an easy job.
If it seems that the athletic trainer has many tasks to perform, you are absolutely correct!
The importance of proper conditioning involving strength, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility cannot be overemphasized. The following list contains the 10 Cardinal Principles of Athletic conditioning that every coach, player, and sports medicine professional must know and implement. The specific accountability rests with the athletic trainer.
10 Cardinal Principles of Athletic Conditioning
- Warm Up-each activity must be preceded by an adequate warm up. Stretching activities and running will provide the greatest benefit following a mild warm up. Warming down (includes stretching again) likewise requires attention.
- Gradualness-Start slowly to condition someone and look to peak at a certain time. Setting goals can be helpful.
- Timing-Athletes must be counseled not to overdo workouts; relaxation and rest form part of every conditioning program.
- Intensity-Workouts and practices must be characterized by quality and continuous activity with appropriate rest periods.
- Capacity level-while cautious to avoid the above pitfalls, athletes will want to work to capacity and should have encouragement to do so.
- Strength-Greater endurance, speed, flexibility, and confidence will result from improved strength.
- Motivation-Sports medicine personnel can reinforce the coaches' techniques to stimulate players.
- Specialization-Include exercises in each players conditioning program to improve the player in relation to the sport he or she wishes to play and her or his weakness.
- Relaxation-Trainers should familiarize themselves with specific techniques to teach players how to relax and there by recover from tension, fatigue, and stress.
- Routine-A planned daily, weekly, and monthly routine must be constructed for each player in cooperation with the athlete and coach.
Many athletic trainers have management responsibilities. Serving in this role in a large university may involve supervising assistant trainers and other staff. It may also involve administering departmental budgets.
One of the most visible (via television) trainers is Ronnie Barnes. He serves as head athletic trainer for the New York Giants. Active in the National Association of Athletic Trainers, Barnes said, "If you're not good enough to play, yet still want to be in on the sports action down on the field or on the court, seriously consider the position of athletic trainer." Barnes served as athletic trainer at East Carolina University, where he received his bachelor's degree, and at Michigan State University, from which he obtained his master's degree before undertaking his present position. He also earned the Athletic Trainer Certificate (ATC).
Serving as an athletic trainer for the Giants may sound glamorous, and it is! "The profession demands hard work, long hours, and travel, but it's exciting," he said. "The profession is still in its infancy-I particularly enjoy the breakthroughs in terms of new ways to improve athletic performance, such as a new stretching program or weight training regimen."
Despite the entry of large numbers into this profession during the 1980s, job prospects continue to look good. A number of high schools have added athletic trainers to their staffs. In 1985 North Carolina became the first state to require them for high schools, and this trend has spread. For example, Orange County, Florida, instituted a similar mandate in 1990. Andrew Clary, University of Miami head athletic trainer, noted that "the future in this job is tremendous, not only in school settings but in corporate fitness." Clary believes his profession makes a unique contribution to sports medicine because of its practitioners' unique knowledge of soft tissue (such as muscle). The undergraduate athletic training option at Penn State University typifies most programs. It includes the following courses:
- Orientation to athletic training
- Advanced athletic training
- Recognition and physical examination of athletic injury
- Foundation of therapeutic exercise
- Exercise physiology
- Introduction to therapeutic modalities Administrative aspects of athletic training
- Additional related courses and other university requirements round out the program.
