2 answers
Averi
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
4
Questions
Asked
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Collegiate Athletic Trainer ?
What does it look like to be an athletic trainer for a college football team? What do you do on a daily basis? What do you do during games? What are some other college sports where athletic trainers are needed?
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2 answers
Chris Harp
Athletic Trainer
14
Answers
Florence, Kentucky
Updated
Chris’s Answer
The short answer: it varies.
Daily duties may include documentation, following up with players about conditions and injuries, following up with her providers, scheduling appointments, driving players to appointments, working with the coaching staff and strength and conditioning staff to return a player from injury, traveling with the team. Depending on the size of the school, you may be asked to supervise weight training sessions, or you may even be in charge of weight training sessions. Anything that benefits the players could be on your to do list.
During games,.. Athletic trainers are going to be the ones taping the players, wrists and ankles being the most common, before games. As the game is occurring, the athletic trainers are going to be the ones evaluating injuries, and, with the assistance of the team physician, determining play status for players. if an emergency occurs, the athletic trainer is the one that is generally going to be performing CPR, applying the AED, and coordinating with EMS for transport of the athlete. just look at the recent incident with Buffalo Bills damar Hamlin. It was their athletic trainer who was performing CPR.
At the college level, generally speaking, all sports will have an athletic trainer. The depth of their involvement may depend on other sports coverage for teams that are also in season. Unfortunately, not all high schools have athletic trainers, so coverage may vary.
As part of a college athletic training course, I make my students read the following article. It may provide some picture of what a college athletic trainer does.
https://theaggie.org/2017/02/20/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-athletic-trainer/
Athletic training just moved to an entry-level masters degree. This means that you will need a four-year bachelors degree, generally in exercise science or kinesiology, and then a masters degree in athletic training. Some schools offer a 3+2 program where you can graduate in five years. I would recommend you look into those programs.
Daily duties may include documentation, following up with players about conditions and injuries, following up with her providers, scheduling appointments, driving players to appointments, working with the coaching staff and strength and conditioning staff to return a player from injury, traveling with the team. Depending on the size of the school, you may be asked to supervise weight training sessions, or you may even be in charge of weight training sessions. Anything that benefits the players could be on your to do list.
During games,.. Athletic trainers are going to be the ones taping the players, wrists and ankles being the most common, before games. As the game is occurring, the athletic trainers are going to be the ones evaluating injuries, and, with the assistance of the team physician, determining play status for players. if an emergency occurs, the athletic trainer is the one that is generally going to be performing CPR, applying the AED, and coordinating with EMS for transport of the athlete. just look at the recent incident with Buffalo Bills damar Hamlin. It was their athletic trainer who was performing CPR.
At the college level, generally speaking, all sports will have an athletic trainer. The depth of their involvement may depend on other sports coverage for teams that are also in season. Unfortunately, not all high schools have athletic trainers, so coverage may vary.
As part of a college athletic training course, I make my students read the following article. It may provide some picture of what a college athletic trainer does.
https://theaggie.org/2017/02/20/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-athletic-trainer/
Athletic training just moved to an entry-level masters degree. This means that you will need a four-year bachelors degree, generally in exercise science or kinesiology, and then a masters degree in athletic training. Some schools offer a 3+2 program where you can graduate in five years. I would recommend you look into those programs.
David Smith
Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer, Adjunct Professor
1
Answer
Spring, Texas
Updated
David’s Answer
Chris summed it up pretty well. I would add that Athletic Trainers typically have different roles. ATs have to be first responders, rehabilitate injuries, counsel athletes, document and collaborate with coaches and staff....all in a day. Some work with sports teams, some get into favility or university management, some work in more rehabilitative intensive roles. I would get some exposure by volunteering or getting an internship and see if it is a career for you.
I personally used it as a spring board to PT school, but now am utilizing my AT experience as a contact employee and educator.
I personally used it as a spring board to PT school, but now am utilizing my AT experience as a contact employee and educator.