The National Association of Athletic Trainers (NATA), has partnered with several groups including National Federation of High School (NFHS), to form a task force for providing "appropriate medical care fo High School athletes".

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2008-06-18-hs-trainers_N.htm

 

From the article...."Just as you have a responsibility to make sure there is a coach, a facility, a field to play on, equipment and an opposing team to play, you also have a responsibility to provide care," said Jon Almquist, chair of the task force and athletic training administrator for Fairfax Count public schools in Virginia.

 

How many have certified Athletic Trainers at your school. Also, what are your thoughts on how to implement, at your school if you don't have one.

Many many yrs ago, the state was going to make this mandatory that every H.S. have a paid(school employee)ATC on site everyday. Unfortunately, the reform act hit and money was lost to help pay for this service. Now, most schools, at least in NKY are covered by Sports Medicine Clinics or Outpatient Physical Therapy Company's for FREE!

 

The dog eat dog battle of who will cover who has ruined the medical field for Certified Athletic Trainers. Since the service is being provided for nothing the schools no longer have to hire an ATC to cover their athletic events.

Many many yrs ago, the state was going to make this mandatory that every H.S. have a paid(school employee)ATC on site everyday. Unfortunately, the reform act hit and money was lost to help pay for this service. Now, most schools, at least in NKY are covered by Sports Medicine Clinics or Outpatient Physical Therapy Company's for FREE!

 

The dog eat dog battle of who will cover who has ruined the medical field for Certified Athletic Trainers. Since the service is being provided for nothing the schools no longer have to hire an ATC to cover their athletic events.

 

Kind of confused here by what you mean as free? Yes I know free is free but are you saying that schools are not paying a certain company to have an ATC cover their schools?

 

Like you mentioned most NKY schools I know of are covered by an ATC from a physical therapy company/hospital and there are a few that have hired their own through the school. I don't think a school should have to hire a full time athletic trainer but I do think they should have one on site for all home games.

Kind of confused here by what you mean as free? Yes I know free is free but are you saying that schools are not paying a certain company to have an ATC cover their schools?

 

Like you mentioned most NKY schools I know of are covered by an ATC from a physical therapy company/hospital and there are a few that have hired their own through the school. I don't think a school should have to hire a full time athletic trainer but I do think they should have one on site for all home games.

I believe, what UNC-5 is alluding to, is some hospitals and other agencies, can provide a Trainer for athletic events who needs "x" amount of hours, to complete specific requirements.

 

Some may even provide certified or several who are still pursuing a degree, in that field.

At Greenup we have one A.T., she does a great job but has to run non-stop because there are so many sports boys and girls now days. I have personally seen her go back and forth between two different sporting events, I am not sure that one is enough in a large school with all of the title nine sports.

I believe, what UNC-5 is alluding to, is some hospitals and other agencies, can provide a Trainer for athletic events who needs "x" amount of hours, to complete specific requirements.

 

Some may even provide certified or several who are still pursuing a degree, in that field.

 

Well that is a whole mess with liability then, especially if the person is not certified. Also, I can't see many certified athletic trainers volunteering their time for a particular high school unless they really really like the school. Athletic trainers work enough hours and very few get the recognition they deserve.

 

Like coupon said I have seen athletic trainers run from one sporting event to another then to another. I wish some schools would wake up and see that each school needs at least one to cover their events. It is a huge liability not to have an athletic trainer especially, when it comes to football & soccer.

Free, meaning, the schools do not pay the establishments the ATC works for to provide medical coverage. The ATC's get paid from who they work for, not by the schools themselves. Some, but very few, still pay a very small stipend to the company compared to what the ATC makes and considering the long hrs put in versus working clinic.

 

In NKY, every home and away V football game, each team is covered by their own Certified Athletic Trainer. All soccer home games are covered by the home teams ATC as well as basketball, volleyball, freshman/JV football home games. A few schools have a trainer on duty at baseball/softball games but very few.

 

Strike, you can not have a student trainer cover an event unless an ATC is supervise said student. A PT can not even cover a sporting event unless they are an ATC also, at least in this state according to the by-laws but it happens all the time.

Free, meaning, the schools do not pay the establishments the ATC works for to provide medical coverage. The ATC's get paid from who they work for, not by the schools themselves. Some, but very few, still pay a very small stipend to the company compared to what the ATC makes and considering the long hrs put in versus working clinic.

 

In NKY, every home and away V football game, each team is covered by their own Certified Athletic Trainer. All soccer home games are covered by the home teams ATC as well as basketball, volleyball, freshman/JV football home games. A few schools have a trainer on duty at baseball/softball games but very few.

 

Strike, you can not have a student trainer cover an event unless an ATC is supervise said student. A PT can not even cover a sporting event unless they are an ATC also, at least in this state according to the by-laws but it happens all the time.

Thanks and very informative....:thumb:

Free, meaning, the schools do not pay the establishments the ATC works for to provide medical coverage. The ATC's get paid from who they work for, not by the schools themselves. Some, but very few, still pay a very small stipend to the company compared to what the ATC makes and considering the long hrs put in versus working clinic.

 

In NKY, every home and away V football game, each team is covered by their own Certified Athletic Trainer. All soccer home games are covered by the home teams ATC as well as basketball, volleyball, freshman/JV football home games. A few schools have a trainer on duty at baseball/softball games but very few.

 

Strike, you can not have a student trainer cover an event unless an ATC is supervise said student. A PT can not even cover a sporting event unless they are an ATC also, at least in this state according to the by-laws but it happens all the time.

 

For the most part each school pays a small fee to the company that is providing the service (athletic trainer). The high school does not pay any of the athletic trainer's salary but it is "understood" that the student athlete goes to their respective company for rehab.

 

Getting back on the subject. Like you said a PT can not cover a sporting event unless they are PT. ALOT of people think they can. I don't think alot of people realize what exactly an athletic trainer does and what type of education they have.

Take a salt pill.

Take a salt pill.

 

I hope this is your way of being funny.

Kind of confused here by what you mean as free? Yes I know free is free but are you saying that schools are not paying a certain company to have an ATC cover their schools?

 

Like you mentioned most NKY schools I know of are covered by an ATC from a physical therapy company/hospital and there are a few that have hired their own through the school. I don't think a school should have to hire a full time athletic trainer but I do think they should have one on site for all home games.

 

Why not and what happens if a player is injured during practice?

Free, meaning, the schools do not pay the establishments the ATC works for to provide medical coverage. The ATC's get paid from who they work for, not by the schools themselves. Some, but very few, still pay a very small stipend to the company compared to what the ATC makes and considering the long hrs put in versus working clinic.

 

In NKY, every home and away V football game, each team is covered by their own Certified Athletic Trainer. All soccer home games are covered by the home teams ATC as well as basketball, volleyball, freshman/JV football home games. A few schools have a trainer on duty at baseball/softball games but very few.

 

Strike, you can not have a student trainer cover an event unless an ATC is supervise said student. A PT can not even cover a sporting event unless they are an ATC also, at least in this state according to the by-laws but it happens all the time.

 

First Bolded Part:

This was true at one time but more clinics state wide are now charging the schools that they are covering.

 

Second Bolded Part:

Do you not find this an imposition on the host Athletic Trainer. I can see taking care of emergencys. Are you also referring to taping and pre-game preparations?

 

Third Bolded Part:

This is not true at all. The state law says that no one can say they are an athletic trainer and be compensated as such unless they are a certified athletic trainer. A PT (or OT or PTA or EMT) can legally cover athletic events as long as they don't hold themselves out as an athletic trainer.

For the most part each school pays a small fee to the company that is providing the service (athletic trainer). The high school does not pay any of the athletic trainer's salary but it is "understood" that the student athlete goes to their respective company for rehab.

 

Getting back on the subject. Like you said a PT can not cover a sporting event unless they are PT. ALOT of people think they can. I don't think alot of people realize what exactly an athletic trainer does and what type of education they have.

 

There's a lot of truth to this. People confuse athletic trainers with personal trainers all of the time and they are totally apples to oranges. That's part of the reason that most athletic trainers now refer to themselves as such rather then just "trainer".

 

A PT can cover a sporting event as long as he/she does not say they are an athletic trainer.

 

Personally I believe that every high school in should have a full time athletic trainer on site for every game and practice. I think it should be a part of the NECESSARY expense that schools have to pay in order to field athletic teams.

Personally, I believe an Athletic Trainer should be a paid position, and mandatory. If so, the trainer would definitely know the kids he or she is working with and could develop a "history" with them...meaning he'd know their previous problems and that can make a huge difference in treating an injury. How can that be if you never know from situation to situation who's going to be at the game/practice.

 

From a parent's perspective, I can tell you that I'm 100% grateful that Trinity provides a Certified Athletic Trainer for it's teams. It made a huge difference for one student I know.