With a normal graduation class size of 20, students in the athletic training major are faced by four tough years of work and competition with each other.
For aspiring athletic trainers, hands-on experience is at the core of the major. The university distinguishes its athletic training program by encouraging students to complete 200 hours of hands-on experience per year, Dan Watson, head athletic trainer, said. These hours are gained through participating in clinical rotations, working in the athletic training room and collaborating with the university’s sports teams.
“It’s a great major where they get the hands-on clinical experience early on,” Watson said.
Each fall Delaware accepts 60-80 freshmen interested in athletic training. After a week of classes, these Athletic Training Interests (ATI) are already in the training room, observing certified athletic trainers treat athletes.
The major has a normal four-year track, which prepares students for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification exam. According to the exam’s website, 80 percent of test takers pass the exam on the first try. However, Delaware graduates tend to do better than the average.
“Upon graduation, we’ve had everyone pass the test in the past 4-5 years,” Watson said.
In addition to coursework, ATIs begin with simple responsibilities. Senior athletic training major Tiana McKim said responsibility is gained as the years progress. She is currently working with the women’s basketball team.
“As an ATI, you’re doing a lot of Gatorade filling, cleaning up the training room,” McKim said. “But when you’re actually in the program, that’s when you can start making certain decisions.”
Additionally, each semester students request which clinical rotations they would like to participate in. Clinicals take place at local high schools as well as at the university’s athletic training room and physical therapy clinic.
ATIs are also required to stay with one of the school’s teams and observe the upperclassmen and certified athletic trainers. Senior athletic training major Michael Stant is one of three seniors working with the football team this year.
“For football, it ranges,” Stant said. “I do rehabs, we do practice coverage, get the water and equipment ready.”
Most underclassman ATIs jump from sport to sport to figure out which sports team they like working with the best. Seniors often stay with a single team for the full year.
“Once you’re a senior, it’s kinda getting you in the mindset of becoming a certified athletic trainer,” McKim said. “I have had over 1,500 hours since I’ve been in the program.”
Once graduated and certified, athletic training majors can enter the workforce. The majority continue onto graduate school, Watson said.
As seniors, McKim and Stant have earned the chance to recommend treatments for the athletes.
“The hands-on experience is really unique to UD,” McKim said. “There a lot of other programs where they don’t get that immersion. I think the best perk that I’ve had was the ability to make my own decisions when it comes to the athletes.”
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://udreview.com/over-1500-hours-athletic-trainers-essential-to-university-sports/