Keeping Tigers student-athletes healthy is a real team effort at 国民彩票. Routed in the 国民彩票 Physiotherapy Clinic (DPC), the 国民彩票 Athletic Trainer Program (DATP) is where it all begins.
Athletic trainers provide 鈥榦n field鈥� first aid and preventative care at practices and competition for the 国民彩票 Tigers varsity and contact club teams. The program provides education in prevention and management of athletic injuries and exposure to the field of sports therapy. It鈥檚 a very popular opportunity for undergraduate students within 国民彩票鈥檚 School of Health and Human Performance to gain valuable hands-on experience to further their education and move on to careers in health care.
Run by therapy assistants and co-athletic trainer coordinators Declan O鈥橞rien and Tessah MacDowall, the DATP receives an average of 70-90 applications for 45 athletic trainer positions each year. Once accepted, students are assigned to teams as a head trainer, assistant trainer or as part of the mentorship program, depending on experience.
Head trainers must have a minimum of one-year of experience as a trainer and provide leadership for assistant trainers and act as mentors. They are responsible for scheduling coverage at practices and lead communications between trainers, coaches and DPC staff. The mentorship program gives individuals who don鈥檛 have any previous experience an opportunity to be exposed to the DATP and learn as an observer.
Once assigned to a team, trainers play a vital role with the teams, one that Tigers head coaches like women鈥檚 volleyball coach Rick Scott sees as crucial.
鈥淭he trainer program has been a very important part of the success of our program over the years,鈥� says Scott. 鈥淲e have had so many great trainers that are hard-working, committed and who genuinely care about our student-athletes.聽They go that extra mile to keep each athlete healthy, happy and safe.聽They are often the first to arrive at the gym to provide heat, taping or stretching and usually the last to leave after providing ice and care post-practice or after games.聽Our trainers have really become an important part of our team - they join us for team-building activities and are always cheering us聽on in matches.鈥�
DATP participants receive educational and practical teaching components from Rhonda Reardon, clinic manager at the DPC and physiotherapists Joseph Ghosn and Kyle Crosby. The hands-on training gives them the tools they need to successfully care for Tigers athletes. The connection to the DPC also helps to ensure that student-athletes who are receiving care for injuries don鈥檛 push themselves beyond what their physiotherapist has prescribed.
The onset of COVID-19 hasn鈥檛 had as big an impact on the DATP as one might think. Being in the Atlantic Bubble, Tigers teams are able to train, which means they need the support of athletic trainers.
All trainers are required to wear a mask and ensure physical distancing from athletes and coaching staff when not providing direct care. And similar to the DPC adaptations, there