Athletic Trainer

General Statement of Duties:

The position of athletic trainer is a 12-month position. The duties of the athletic trainer include, but are not limited to, prevention of athletic injuries, recognition, evaluation, and immediate care of athletic injuries, rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries, health care administration, and professional development  specified in the Domains of the NATA Certified Athletic Trainer. 

The athletic trainer serves as a liaison between physicians, coaches, athletes, and parents. The athletic trainer ensures that players participate only when physically able and that any physician instructions are understood and followed. The athletic trainer will coordinate with the Athletic Director to ensure that the athletic training room and all required events are attended.

Specific Duties:

In cooperation with the Principal and the Athletic Director, the Athletic Trainer must:

• Develop plans for providing athletic trainer coverage at all interscholastic athletic events identified in the Athletic Training Program Coverage Policy.

• Establish daily hours of operation for the athletic training room.

• Develop a comprehensive emergency action plan for their specific facilities.

• Initiate and administer an athletic training - student aid program in accordance with the school's clubs and activities guidelines.

• Establish a working relationship with a designated team physician and community physicians.

• Complete Diocesan Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan training and comply with the regulations therein.

• Maintain adequate medical quality records on all injuries and rehabilitation procedures 

• Comply with any and all policies regarding health care delivery as indicated by Seton’s regulations, and outlined in the Athletic Injury Management section of Seton Catholic Prep Athletic Training Program Policies and Procedures Manual.

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR A CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER/EDUCATOR

Athletic Trainer Job Responsibilities:

The following are tasks that are essential functions of the job and must be performed satisfactorily.

1. The athletic trainer will provide athletic health care for home contests on a schedule cooperatively determined by the athletic trainer and athletic director. The athletic trainer is to attend most varsity contests, non-varsity contests in football and varsity football away-games. Varsity and selected non-varsity contests are to be worked based on the risk of the sports and the availability of the athletic trainer during a particular sport season.

1. The athletic trainer and athletic director will determine practice attendance; this includes daily attendance of varsity and non-varsity sports. Practice attendance is to be based upon injury risk of the sport and other mutually agreed upon factors.

1. The athletic trainer will work selected post-season contests as determined by the athletic trainer and athletic director.

1. The athletic trainer will provide for the prevention of athletic injuries through the application of protective tapings, wraps, and braces, and assist in the design of practices to help to reduce the incidence of injury.

1. The athletic trainer will advise coaches of flexibility, strengthening, and conditioning programs to help prevent injuries and optimize performance.

1. The athletic trainer will facilitate the development and implementation of a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan for all sports facilities

1. The athletic trainer will administer neuro-cognitive baseline concussion tests to athletes in contact sports and interpret results of these tests in conjunction with concussion care and return to play decisions for the athletes.

1. The athletic trainer will provide immediate care of athletic injuries and refer the athlete to medical facilities when necessary.

1. The athletic trainer will design and supervise rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries under the direction of a referring physician.

1. The athletic trainer will keep medical histories and correspondence on file in the athletic training room. The athletic trainer will maintain accurate medical records for injuries, treatment, rehabilitation, and physician referrals and accident reports. These files will be kept in a known location that is accessible to administration at any time and checked annually.

1. The athletic trainer will be responsible for budgeting, ordering, and inventorying athletic training supplies.

1. The athletic trainer will supervise athletic training student aides from the sports medicine program.

1. The athletic trainer will counsel and advise student athletes on health related issues, including nutrition and substance abuse.

1. The athletic trainer will conduct sports medicine workshops for the teachers as needed. These workshops will include information on injury prevention, basic first aid and CPR, injury recognition and treatment, and injury rehabilitation. In addition, the Athletic Trainer will provide specific information on blood borne pathogens, HIV/AIDS, the school’s Sports Medicine Protocols, and other health-related topics.

1.  The athletic trainer may advise and assist with equipment purchases and fittings.

1. The athletic trainer maintains open channels of communication with coaches, parents, and physicians regarding athletic injuries, treatment, and rehabilitation.

1. The athletic trainer may market the athletic training program within the school and the medical community through newsletters, brochures, media contacts, etc.

1.  The athletic trainer is responsible to the Athletic Director and is supervised by the Team Physicians.

1. The athletic trainer/educator professional day will begin as determined by the athletic director in writing to provide sports medical care to athletes and supervise sports medicine students after regular school hours.

Required Educations, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to Perform Job Functions

1. Must possess initiative, creativity, and problem solving skills, be very organized and detail oriented.
2. Must possess the judgment to handle different personalities and emergency situations, with the flexibility to adjust to everyday developments in the Athletic Department.
3. Must have the ability to observe and actively listen in assessing individual students, staff, and program needs
4. Must possess a proficiency in good communication skills with both students and adults
5. Must possess the ability to work cooperatively with others and display a positive attitude in all situations
6. Must have knowledge and understanding of computers and word processing 
7. Must be fully certified and licensed through NATA BOC and Arizona State Board
8. Must perform any other duties deemed necessary and/or assigned by the Athletic Director or Principal.

Position Requirements

1. The athletic trainer must be certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATA BOC) and maintain the standards established by the NATA's role delineation study.
2. The athletic trainer must be a member in good standing of the NATA.
3. The athletic trainer must be a member in good standing of NATA District.
4. The athletic trainer must be a member in good standing of the (State) Athletic Trainers Association.