Athletic Trainer

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

An athletic trainer could...

Overview Listen to this section

Sports injuries can be painful and debilitating. Athletic trainers help athletes, and other physically active people, avoid such injuries, while also working to improve their strength and conditioning. Should a sports injury occur, athletic trainers help to evaluate the injury, determine the treatment needed, and design a fitness regime to rehabilitate the athlete so he or she is ready to go out and compete again.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Athletic Trainer?

1. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
3. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
4. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
5. Service Orientation: ? Actively looking for ways to help people.

6. Social Perceptiveness: ? Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
7. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
8. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
9. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
10. Instructing: ? Teaching others how to do something.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Athletic Trainer might do:

• Evaluate athletes' readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
• Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
• Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete's injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
• Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
• Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
• Apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists.
• Plan or implement comprehensive athletic injury or illness prevention programs.
• Collaborate with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.
• Advise athletes on the proper use of equipment.
• Travel with athletic teams to be available at sporting events.
• File athlete insurance claims and communicate with insurance providers.
• Instruct coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, or community members in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.
• Accompany injured athletes to hospitals.
• Inspect playing fields to locate any items that could injure players.
• Develop training programs or routines designed to improve athletic performance.
• Recommend special diets to improve athletes' health, increase their stamina, or alter their weight.
• Conduct research or provide instruction on subject matter related to athletic training or sports medicine.
• Confer with coaches to select protective equipment.
• Massage body parts to relieve soreness, strains, or bruises.
• Lead stretching exercises for team members prior to games or practices.