AT Philosophy

Whose running out to help that player?

Following is my philosophy about the Athletic Training profession and some of my experiences.




First off, it is amazing how many individuals still don't know who an athletic trainer (ATC) is and what they do Working in a physical therapy clinic as an aid I always get the same response when I tell patients I am going to school for athletic training, "Oh, that sounds cool. What is that?" Or, another thought of ATC's are that they are just glorified ankle tapers. But what people don't understand is the amount of intelligence and how many hundreds of hours ATC's spend learning and perfecting their crafts as they begin to step out into the workforce after finally getting licensed.

As with any profession, an athletic trainer must work well with other members of the administration, but it is even more important to have a great relationship with the athletes. These athletes are trusting you with their health and the ability to stay on their playing field. A competent, honest, and straightforward ATC will have a better rapport with his/her athletes than one that is timid and/or lacking confidence in themselves, because if I have learned one thing, it is that an athlete can become very uncomfortable if you seem hesitant.

I have loved my experience so far as an athletic training student, but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my passion for sports. In college I played football and track and had a very good college career going for me when at the peak of it all, I suffered an acl injury. It wasn't until after I completed rehab and stepped back out on the field that I realized what I wanted to do with my life. It's not just because I wanted to be around sports for a career, but it was being able to give back to an athlete, what was given to me, a second chance at playing the sports that I loved.

Something I have realized is, learning never stops. After I graduate and become certified as an ATC, that is just the beginning of my journey. To become more than just an "average" athletic trainer, I have to continue want to learn and be active in my learning. This will take going to conferences and completing continuing education courses. You can never have enough knowledge, because nobody knows "everything." Because we are not just a person that helps the healing process, but we are also teachers to our athletes and co-workers as we will teach them, as well as learn from them.