The Role and Function of the Athletic Trainer
The athletic trainer is a highly skilled professional who serves as an integral part of a complete athletic program. An athletic trainer's duties consist of implementing programs for the prevention of injury, administering immediate treatment to injures athletes, supervising rehabilitation of the injured athlete as directed by the team physician, and managing the budget and record-keeping.
Because an athletic trainer's responsibilities are varied, he/she must have a in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, psychology, hygiene, nutrition, taping, conditioning, prevention of injury methodology, and protective equipment and rehabilitative techniques. Acquiring knowledge on these subjects is part of a continuous process. Many athletic trainers earn advanced degrees to improve their ability to meet the requirements of this demanding profession, as the care of athletic injuries must be administered with great skill and is constantly changing due to research in the medical field.
Field of Athletic Training
Athletic training is one of the areas of specialization within sports injury medicine. Athletic training works within a sports program and in the areas of necessary medical care. It provides a means for the implementation of prevention, emergency care, and rehabilitation procedures. The athletic trainer is recognized as a paramedical profession by the American Medical Association. The primary duties and responsibilities of an athletic trainer are:
- Injury prevention
- Recognition and evaluation of injuries/illness
- Injury management/treatment
- Injury rehabilitation
- Organization and administration (budget/record-keeping)
- Education and counseling.
In the State of Illinois, Athletic Trainers must be certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association through the Board of Certification exam and must be licensed in the state by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulations.
Athletic Training Student Aide Program
Students interested in working as an Athletic Training Student Aide should contact one of the Certified Athletic Trainers on staff for more information. Students working in the Waubonsie Valley Athletic Training Student Aide program will experience coverage of a variety of sports. Coverage can range from daily practices to travel to post-season competition.
Opportunities for attending student athletic training camps at near by universities are available. These camps will introduce students to the field of athletic training, as well as the educational requirements necessary to become a certified athletic trainer.
Links
National Athletic Training Association – nata.org
Great Lakes Athletic Training Association – glata.org
Illinois Athletic Training Assoication – illinoisathletictrainers.org