Athletic Trainer

Work Tasks, Settings, Tools, and Materials

ATHLETIC TRAINERS are concerned about the prevention, recognition, management, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. They help athletes avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily activities. Athletic trainers advise and oversee professional and amateur athletes in programs to maintain physical fitness and prevent injury. They make sure sports players are in the best physical condition and are able to withstand the rigors of competition. Athletic trainers organize and supervise physical examinations before the season starts. Athletic trainers evaluate the physical condition of athletes, confer with coaches and team physicians, and develop and prescribe exercise programs and diets. They advise players about nutrition, diet, weight control, and other health matters. Athletic trainers determine the physical condition of athletes and recommend exercises that will increase their strength and flexibility and then correct any weaknesses.
Athletic trainers inspect equipment and choose protective equipment for the athletes. They advise athletes on the proper use of equipment and exercise. Athletic trainers also inspect playing fields for any hazards that may exist. Trainers tape, wrap, pad, bandage, or brace limbs or muscles of players before a practice, game, or competition to protect them from injury. They evaluate injuries to decide if the athlete needs further medical treatment. Athletic trainers decide when players are fit to compete. Trainers also keep medical records and file insurance reports. They also develop conditioning and injury rehabilitation programs.

The American Medical Association recognizes athletic training as an allied health care profession. As a part of a complete health care team, the athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other health care workers, athletic administrators, coaches, and parents.

ATHLETIC TRAINERS work for:

high schools, colleges, and universities
professional athletic teams
the Armed Forces
sports medicine clinics
recreation clubs, resorts, and camps
government agencies
hospitals
corporate health programs
health clubs
clinical and industrial health care programs
Athletic trainers work indoors in training rooms and outdoors in fields and stadiums. They may also travel with teams.

ATHLETIC TRAINERS work with:

helmets, kneepads, and other protective equipment
exercise and training equipment
medical records and insurance reports
menus and diets
medical supplies

Related Civilian and Military Occupations

Exercise Physiologists develop, implement, and coordinate exercise programs and administer medical tests, under the supervision of a physician, to program participants to promote physical fitness.
Other Related Occupations:

Head Coach
Manager, Athlete
Scout, Professional Sports
Umpire
Exerciser, Horse

There are no military occupations that are related to Athletic Trainer.

Training, Related Majors, and Advancement

Employers prefer to hire ATHELTIC TRAINERS with at least a bachelor's degree in athletic training. Some employers prefer a master''s degree. Curriculum includes formal instruction in the prevention and evaluation of athletic injuries and illnesses, first aid and emergency care, therapeutic exercise, administration of athletic training programs, human anatomy, human physiology, exercise physiology, kinesiology and biomechanics, nutrition, psychology, and personal and community health. The curriculum also includes a series of structured and clinical experiences.

The National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) certifies ATHLETIC TRAINERS. Candidates must have a bachelor''s degree from a NATA-accredited college or university, at least two years of experience under the direct supervision of NATA-certified athletic trainers, and must pass a written and an oral examination. Most states have taken action to license athletic trainers.

The following majors could help you prepare for this occupation:

Athletic Training
Exercise Science & Kinesiology
Health Teacher Education
Physical Educ Teaching & Coaching
Sport & Fitness Admin/Management
ATHLETIC TRAINERS with experience and ability may become head athletic trainers or directors of training. Some may move to a sports medicine clinic or a rehabilitation center. Some become athletic directors.


Desirable Personal Qualities

Helpful qualities for ATHLETIC TRAINERS include:
an ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations
an ability to put together fitness, nutrition, and conditioning programs
an interest in athletes and their well-being
knowledge of CPR and emergency medical procedures
tact, understanding, and sympathy
a sense of humor
an ability to get along well with others

Many skills that are useful to a successful Athletic Trainer can be learned in school, such as:

ENGLISH SKILLS
Explain complex activities or ideas to others using concise, well-organized, and focused thoughts.
Organize paragraphs in a logical order with introductory and summary paragraphs.
Use sophisticated vocabulary correctly.
Write reports or documents that use sophisticated language to concisely explain ideas.
MATHEMATICS SKILLS
Use arithmetic to solve problems, which may contain fractions, decimals, negative numbers, etc.
Use percentages to compute discounts, rankings, portions, or other values.
Determine the probability that an event will occur.
READING SKILLS
Read and interpret sophisticated or technical reports, articles, and books.
Learn new concepts through reading highly technical or sophisticated literature.
Locate answers to questions by reading multiple complex articles or books.
Identify the implied relationships in complex written information, even if the relationships are not clearly stated.
Draw conclusions about people, ideas, things, or tasks by synthesizing complex written information.
SCIENCE SKILLS
Estimate a value for an event that falls outside of the values provided on a graph or in a table.
Compare or combine data from different sources, such as different graphs or tables.
Understand and use scientific terminology related to an area of expertise.
Understand the implications of complex data that you or others collect.
When using a model or theory, explain why new data fits the model or indicates a problem.
Compare complex theories or models and decide which one best explains observed events.
Predict how the results would change if a process for collecting data where changed.
The average WorkKeys skill levels needed for an Athletic Trainer are:

READING FOR INFORMATION (level 5)
Read moderately long descriptions with jargon, technical terms, and conditionals, and apply to similar but not identical situations.

APPLIED MATHEMATICS (level 3)
Perform simple one-step mathematical operations on whole numbers, simple fractions, decimals, or percentages.

LISTENING (level 3)
Correctly write down most of the primary information from a message.

WRITING (level 3)
Write messages using complete sentences that are easily understood and contain only a moderate number of mechanical errors.

LOCATING INFORMATION (level 4)
Use straightforward graphics such as basic line graphs, tables, maps, and diagrams to find or compare several pieces of information.

TEAMWORK (level 4)
Recognize organizational skills and behaviors needed to achieve a somewhat ambiguous team goal while respecting diverse team needs.

OBSERVATION (level 5)
Focus attention on and recall sometimes subtle relevant details of tasks with a number of steps, ignoring irrelevant background information.

Estimated Salary:

• Economic Research Institute (survey of salaries in 2007):

*National average for all occupations included in this survey: $45,000/year or $21.75/hour

* Other Information:
Earnings for ATHLETIC TRAINERS depend upon level of education, certification, and various other factors. Those who work with major league teams and star athletes have higher earnings.

Estimated Outlook (from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics):

* Number of Workers (surveyed in 2006)

*Employment Outlook (economic projections made in 2004)

This category is:

Small (0 to 24,999)
Expected to Grow Rapidly (2.5% or higher growth)
Employment growth will result as the public increasingly participates in sports as a form of entertainment, recreation, and physical conditioning. Keen competition is expected at the professional level.

What Workers Say They Like and Dislike

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Some ATHLETIC TRAINERS may like:

the satisfaction in taking care of the physical condition of athletes
being part of the healthcare profession
traveling with the athlete or team
advising athletes on nutrition, diet, and exercise and training programs

Some ATHLETIC TRAINERS may dislike:

dealing with difficult people
traveling
working long hours

Info Bites

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World-of-Work Map

• 
  Career Cluster: Social Service
• 
  Career Area: W

Work Tasks:
*concerned about the prevention and care of sports injuries
*oversee programs to keep athletes in good shape to avoid injuries
*advise on good nutrition, weight control, and other health matters
*organize physical examinations before season starts
*put protective tape and padding on players
*make sure the playing fields are safe
*keep medical records and insurance files
Salary Range: $32,500 to $48,000
Size of Category: Small (0 to 24,999)
Size Will: Grow Rapidly (2.5% or higher growth)
Setting: Inside & Outside
Minimum Education: 4-Year Degree
Travel: Occasional Travel
Variety: Medium Variety
Working with People: Public Contact
Schedule Options: Seasonal Work
Physical Demands: Lifting, Uneven Walking, Stooping/Kneeling, Hearing Talk/Sounds, Seeing Objects/Details

For more information about Athletic Trainer you may contact:

National Athletic Trainers Association
2952 Stemmons Highway
Dallas, TX 75247
http://www.nata.org/

National Association for Sport and Physical Education
1900 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1598
http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/

Use these reference numbers to find information in books about Athletic Trainer:

Dictionary of Occupational Titles #: 153.224-010

O*Net #: 29-9091.00

US Dept of Ed Career Cluster: Hospitality and Tourism

Guide to Occupational Exploration #: 10.02.02