The C.A.T. Relationship
(Coach-Athlete-Trainer)
Source:
Zettlemoyer, Alex. "Coaches and Certified Athletic Trainers: An Important Relationship." NFHS. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Date:
1/22/16
Analysis:
The pure passion of an athlete is often times unmatched: the love of the game, the desire to improve, the lack of complacency, all are present in a true athlete’s mindset. This intensity causes many athletes to continue playing after being injured, despite constant pressuring from athletic trainers not to continue on. Furthermore, coaches with the goal of winning hate seeing their best players being sidelined, causing them to overlook injuries and in turn the health and safety of these all-stars. The relationship between the athlete, coach, and athletic trainer is properly conducted when all three people have the same goals and same boundaries.
In the article, the author concludes one of these goals to be creating a successful athlete, and without proper communication, the relationship between athletic trainers and coaches can become especially dysfunctional. The root cause of nearly all of these broken connections is simple: miscommunication. This problem is especially magnified in high school sports where the ratio of athletes to athletic trainers is extremely disproportional, and trainers rarely see coaches on a consistent basis. However, according to the article, the best way to alleviate this issue is by using technology, from social media to texting, and it is the athletic trainer’s duty to keep the coach up to date on an athlete’s injury status. Unless this information is properly communicated to the coach, driven athletes are highly unlikely to sit out of the game if they believe they can play, regardless of how severe the injury is. As I have researched earlier, the problem with doing this is that recurring injuries can occur, which cause even worse problems in the future.
Although it is crucial that the trainer and coach communicate, it is also highly important that the athlete knows when to sit out and when to play. The best way a trainer and athlete can properly communicate is by trusting one another. Although trust takes time to build, when a trainer and player can trust each other, the number of injuries decrease across the board. Integrity is important for each part of the three-part-relationship, as is the realization that each person simply wishes for the success of the program, the team, the school, whatever it may be. The most saddening injuries are the ones that could have been easily prevented, and it is also important for each person to realize the future of the athlete, not just the present. Missing one game is worth avoiding hundreds of dollars of treatment for a broken leg or torn ACL.
In all, if I continue to push an ankle sprain awareness program for Frisco ISD, another part of the program I create could be focused on the communication between athlete, trainer, and coach. Furthermore, I could even create a new application or method in which all three people can communicate freely through technology, without having to wait for each other’s availability. Supporting whatever data I present to the numerous different trainers and coaches I approach with hard facts and the potential benefits of my program will be crucial to its acceptance and success. As I continue to work on my original work and start my final product, I want to focus on one goal of my SMART goals: to leave a legacy in my niche and create something that revolutionizes my field.
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