Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state's statutes, rules and regulations.  As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.  The NATA Code of Ethics states the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of athletic training.

Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skillset, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. The athletic training academic curriculum and clinical training follows the medical model. Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program, and 70% of ATs have a master’s degree. Learn more about the education of athletic trainers.

The Guide to Athletic Training Services (pdf) describes the qualifications of athletic trainers and the clinical tasks they routinely perform in the delivery of quality health care.

If you are a current high school student and interested in athletic training, you can learn more about the profession by reading the Becoming an AT (pdf),  Profile of Athletic Trainers (pdf) and Who is Taking Care of Your Athletes? (pdf) infographics. _(NATA.org)

_{ATHLETIC TRAINERS ARE EXPERTS}

Working to prevent and treat musculoskeletal injuries and sports-related illnesses, athletic trainers (ATs) offer a continuum of care unparalleled in health care. ATs are part of a team of health care professionals — they practice under the direction of and in collaboration with physicians. ATs work with those individuals who are physically active or involved in sports participation through all stages of life to prevent, treat and rehabilitate injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers should not be confused with personal trainers or “trainers” who focus solely on fitness and conditioning. _{(atyourownrisk.org)}

Clover High School Athletic Training specializes in providing injury and illness prevention, clinical assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services and athlete education to every student-athlete. We are committed to being a leader in sports medicine and athletic training services.

OUR MISSION

The Athletic Training Program’s primary mission at Clover High School is to provide quality medical care to the student athletes.  The athletic training services to be delivered can be broken down into three primary types: injury prevention, management of athletic injuries, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.  We intend to fulfill this mission by:

• Creating a comfortable, caring environment within the athletic training facility.
• Assuring that each physician, staff member and athletic training student aide maintains a pleasant, caring, and professional attitude consistent with the National Athletic Trainers Association Code of Professional Practice.
• Maintaining and operating our athletic training facility in an organized and efficient manner.
• Assuring that our emergency procedures are safe, efficient, and expedient.
• Assuring that each athlete is carefully counseled regarding their injury or illness and options are explained when appropriate.
• Providing all athletes with the opportunity to see a physician when advised by the athletic training staff.
• Ensure that each athlete has the best possible opportunity to participate in athletics in a safe and healthy environment.

The underlying philosophy for this program, is that the medical needs of the student athlete shall always be the first consideration for all members of our athletic training staff.

 

• Create a positive athletic health care administrative system.
• Provide or coordinate per-participation physical examinations.
• Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities.
• Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment.
• Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes.
• Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions.
• Provide or facilitate injury intervention; create and rehearse venue-specific Emergency Action Plan.
• Provide or facilitate psycho-social consultation and nutritional counseling/education.
• Be sure athletes and parents are educated of the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities. 

On the CHS Main campus our state of the art Athletic Training Facility opened in the Fall of 2012 and was featured in Training and Conditioning magazine, April 2016.  This is a 3,500 square foot facility that has dedicated areas for treatment and taping, hydrotherapy, and rehabilitation.  The space also includes office for AT staff, storage for supplies, garage for utility cart/vehicle, restroom/locker room for AT staff and student aides.  A 1,000 square foot classroom for our sports medicine classes that are part of CHS CTE's Health Science Program.  The AT Facility also serves as laboratory space for the sports medicine classes. 
The treatment/taping area features:

• 6 - Pro-Team split-leg adjustable back treatment tables
• 4 Station modular taping unit
• 3 - E-Stim/US Combo Units
• Game Ready cold/compression unit
• Sequential compression unit
• Paraffin bath
• 2 - hydrocollator units for moist heat treatments
• 2 - ice machines

• 2 - 60 Gallon Hi-Boy whirlpool tubs (extremity) with seating
• 2 - 110 Gallon Sport Whirlpool Tubs (extremity or full body) with seating 

• Floor space for rehabilitation activities
• Exercise bike
• Elliptical trainer
• Treadmill
• Knee extension/flexion machine
• Leg press machine
• Medicine ball rebounder
• Slide board
• Pro-fitter
• Mobile rehabilitation weight rack with mirror
• Many other smaller rehabilitation devices/equipment

• Treatment and taping tables
• E-Sim/US Combo unit
• Hydrocollator
• Exercise bike
• 2 - 110 gallon sports whirlpool with seating
• Floor space for rehabilitation
• Other small rehabilitation equipment