March is National Athletic Training Month

March is National Athletic Training Month. You might be asking yourself what exactly is an athletic trainer. According to the NATA (National Athletic Training Association) website, athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients.  Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.

Here at BVU there are fifteen current student athletic trainers, as well as five certified athletic trainers. Duties of a student athletic trainer include aiding in optimizing activity and participation for the athletes on campus. In the athletic training education program, students focus on prevention, diagnosis, intervention of injuries, care, and rehabilitation.
Athletic trainers must arrive at the athletic training room at least an hour before practices in order to do pre-practice treatments and get water for the athletes. During practice, athletic trainers are there to assist any athlete if they get hurt, as well as do rehabilitation exercises on the sideline in order to get injured athletes back to play as quickly as possible.

Each student is required to accumulate 100 clinical hours per semester. Student athletic trainers choose to travel voluntarily with BVU’s athletic teams to away events, and voluntarily cover practices and games during fall, pre-season, and interim. Junior Jocelyn Kock, President of B.V.A.T.S. (Buena Vista Athletic Training Society), says that her favorite aspect of being an athletic trainer is working with the people around her, including BVU athletes, the certified athletic trainers on campus, and classmates.

“All of the students in this program are here to learn and gain hands-on experience, and the athletes and certified’s are very supportive in allowing us to obtain the best experience possible,” Kock said. “Being an athletic training major is very time consuming and forces each student to acquire excellent time management skills.”

Right now there are three seniors, six juniors, and six sophomore students in the program, with several incoming first-year students applying this month. Senior Adam Duerksen says that he enjoys being a trainer because of the sense of accomplishment he feels.

“I played an important role in that athlete getting back to what they love to do,” Duerksen said. Duerksen plans on taking the board exam in order to become a certified athletic trainer. He is looking forward to getting to know his future athletes and helping them in the best possible way.

“I am looking forward to making money for what I do so I can pay the bills.” Duerksen said.

If a student decides to become a certified athletic trainer once they graduate, they have a comprehensive exam given by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification, Inc. (NATABOC). The exam includes things such as: prevention of athletic injuries, recognition, evaluation and immediate care of athletic injuries, rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries, health care administration, and professional development and responsibility.

Take a moment this month to thank the Student Athletic Trainers, as well as the Certified Athletic Trainers, for all they do behind the sense, as well as during games. They truly are the team behind the team.