Athletic Training
By Paul Adams
The job of athletic trainers is to help athletes prevent injuries and recover from them when they do occur.
Paul Presser, the senior co-captain of his high school football team, wanted very much to help his team win the district title. During the second game of the season, Paul injured his knee, and it seemed that his high school football days might be over. But Paul was luckier than most of the nation’s nearly six million high school athletes: his school had a certified athletic trainer.
Working with the team physician, the athletic trainer helped to diagnose the nature and extent of Paul’s injury (which turned out to be a second-degree sprain) and carefully supervised his rehabilitation.
Paul’s physician, coach, and trainer met frequently to discuss his progress. When he was ready to play again, they gradually eased him back into competition. The result: Paul finished the season injury-free, and he and his team did win their division championship.
The athletic trainer is a skilled professional whose main responsibilities are to help athletes prevent injuries and recover from them when they do occur.
The trainer’s skills are varied: he or she must have a thorough knowledge of anatomy, physiology, hygiene, nutrition, conditioning, and injury prevention techniques, such as using protective equipment. An effective trainer must also be able to work collegially and effectively with the team physician, coach, and administrators. Perhaps the most fundamental requirement, however, is a sincere interest in athletics and the well-being of athletes.
Employment outlook
Growth opportunities for certified athletic trainers will be at the high school level, where trainers typically are faculty members who teach a regular class schedule. If you want to become an athletic trainer, you’ll be much more employable if you have teaching certification. A rule of thumb is that the more subjects you can teach, the greater the chance of employment.
Other opportunities
• District Trainer. One who divides his or her time among several schools in a district.
• College or University Trainer. Usually, the beginning trainer starts as an assistant in a large school or as a head trainer in a small one. Training duties could be combined with teaching responsibilities, and a master’s degree would almost certainly be required.
• Professional Teams. Trainers at this level usually have well-established reputations and many years of experience in the field.
• Women’s Athletics. Many universities, high schools, and junior colleges have expanded opportunities for women to participate in sports, which has led to a greater need for women athletic trainers. Numerous graduate assistantships are available, and the number of full-time positions is increasing.
• Sports Medicine Clinics. The growing interest in amateur and recreational athletic activity has contributed to a greater need for experienced trainers in health clubs, fitness centers, corporate health programs, and sports medicine clinics.
In these settings, as well as at the high school and college levels, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician. If you like sports, can work well with lots of different people, are curious about the way the body works, and enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie of athletic teams, a career as an athletic trainer could be the right one for you.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association is dedicated to the advancement, encouragement, and improvement of the athletic training profession. Also, check out The High School Connection (www.nata.org), a subscription-based service for high school students interested in learning about education and career options as an athletic trainer.
