Texas Tech University Athletics
March is Athletic Training Month
March 01, 2011 | General
March 1, 2011
By Athletic Training Staff
Ever wonder who are those people in fanny packs running on the field or court when an injured athlete goes down? Who are those people behind the players hydrating them with fluids?
Well, they are not the stereotypical water boy or girl, but in fact they are athletic trainers. They are not a "trainer" who helps others achieve fitness goals and makes specific exercise programs; they are athletic trainers.
An athletic trainer is a health provider whose daily job is to provide athletes, as well as people outside the jersey, with prevention techniques, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for all types of injuries involving physical activity. Athletic trainers are recognized as an allied health care professional by the American Medical Association.
The entire month of March is National Athletic Trainers' Month. This gives athletic trainers the opportunity to let everybody know who they are and what they do, and that they are important professionals "behind" the scene.
The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports over 32,000 members in the athletic training profession. National Athletic Trainers' Association is the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers, student athletic trainers, and others who support the athletic training profession.
Approximately 70 percent of all certified athletic trainers are holders of a master's degree or higher advanced degree. Athletic trainers can be found in high schools, colleges, professional sports, clinics, hospitals, corporations, industry, military, public safety, and performing arts.
Our mission in the Texas Tech Athletic Training Department is to prevent athletic injury from occurring and to provide a welcoming and caring atmosphere for the 400 plus student athletes in their evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of all injuries when they do occur.
Our program at Texas Tech is an undergraduate internship program which prepares students interested in pursuing a career in athletic training. Getting started in the program is one step through the door to a life time of success and rewarding experiences.
The success of the program at Texas Tech University is evident through our current and former athletic training students. They have enjoyed internships and jobs with National Football League, Dallas Cowboys and the Major League Baseball, Texas Rangers.
The athletic training students have also participated in major bowl football games and collegiate championships, have been accepted into graduate and allied health schools, and have been employed with high schools, rehabilitation clinics/hospitals, other professional sports teams, and in collegiate athletic departments.
Along with these successes in the sports industry, the Texas Tech program has former students who have become anesthesiologist, a bracing specialist, and physical therapists. Texas Tech can also boast that several of our previous student athletic trainers have become certified athletic trainers who have later become presidents of the regional Southwest Athletic Training Association.
