Their names aren’t in the line-ups, and you won’t hear them announced over the intercom; however, they are a very important part of the team. Student-athletic trainers dedicate as much time as the players to the sport that they are assigned to. They wake up early for workouts, attend their classes, participate in all practices, and even get to go on the road when for an away game.
Student-athletic trainers put in time just as players do, including practices, rehab sessions, and games.
Micah Stall, a junior from Gibbon, said athletic trainers spend on average 20-25 hours a week, without including the time spent at home games with the sport they are assigned.
Stall is a level II athletic trainer, which means she is assigned to a specific sports team, hers is football. Her athletic training duties began when the season started, meaning she spent time in the summer at the team camp and two-a-day practices.
She is the only student-athletic trainer that works with football all the time, so she has her hands full.
Stall said that many level I athletic trainers are assigned to sports on a week by week basis, or they can volunteer their time. She says, “It takes about 10 students to run practice every day from an athletic training standpoint.”
So many student athletic trainers needed because of the vast roles that student athletic trainers take part in to make sure the team is ready for their game every weekend.
Stall says, “Being in charge of football means I am the first one that the certified staff asks to help with an injury or the first student to evaluate an injury that may occur. I also am the communication between the certified staff and the other students on what needs to be done, what injuries are present on the team and how we will set up for practice or games.”
A normal day in the life of a student-athletic trainer is very hectic. Stall says their days start at 8 a.m. where they meet in the athletic training room until they have classes. After classes, they are back in the athletic training room at 1. She is expected to be at every practice and early to help players get ready for practice and set up the field. Her day doesn’t end when practice does. After practice, she must get ice for the players and perform treatment on players that require it.
When asked what roles she plays on the team, Stall said she must perform many activities every day. She says, “We prepare the players for practice, which includes taping, rehab and training sessions. Also, they must set up the field which includes, but is not limited to, setting up treatment tables, splints, a spine board and water coolers.” During practices and the games, it is part of Stall’s job as an athletic trainer to make sure the players stay hydrated and to evaluate any injuries that take place. She says, “If any injuries occur, I takes care of them on the field and then reevaluate them after the practice or game.” She must be aware of any injuries that any players are battling.
Although being a student-athletic trainer is a lot of time dedication, Stall says the players and coaches make her feel like part of the team. She says the players generally ask for her help first because being so far into the season they are comfortable with her and know that she will be able to help with their needs. Athletic trainers are a very critical role in any sport’s team and put in a lot of time and energy to take care of athletes.
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