Every Athletic Trainer has a Story

I enjoy history.  I enjoy looking at old photographs, watching the History Channel, hearing stories of 'how it used to be'...you know, nostalgia.  I think that history has such an important role in every aspect of life.  In some cases, history is crucial as we can learn from successes and mistakes.  In other cases, which may not seem as crucial, it is to remember those who laid the ground work for today and the future.  I would argue that remembering those who laid the athletic training profession's foundation is, in fact, crucial.  

I 'happened' into this profession on a suspicion that I would find a career path that I would enjoy.  My little 2A community of Kerens, Texas did not employ an athletic trainer.  I played sports and if you got hurt bad enough, then you pretty much just became the 'manager' for that sport.  I remember that my high school counselor got on the PA and mentioned a summer camp opportunity that focused on athletic training..."What is this?" I thought.  So, I packed my bags with Ashley Allen and off we went to Nacogdoches, Texas for a camp at SFA (see picture below).  Man was I a fish out of water!  I had never held a roll of tape in my life and ice bags were a foreign concept.  Taping contest????  What????  

Some time after that, I got onto the Yahoo search engine (google did not exist) and typed in 'sports + medicine'.  I knew that I wanted to stick with sports and my older sister, Jill, was in nursing school, which interested me.  Guess what I found?  Yup, a whole realm that I never knew existed.  Somehow, I found my way to Sam Houston State University.    So, that is where it began for me.

The more I learn about the history of this profession, the more impressed I am.  As long as there have been sports, there have been injuries and as long there have been injuries, there has surely been someone compelled to help and get the athlete back on their feet again.  

Athletic training in BC times was nothing more than a 'rub' or 'poultices' (Arnheim).  And now, athletic training has developed into a healthcare profession that continues to evolve.  Just this week, athletic trainers are finding out that the Associated Press is including the proper terminology in their Stylebook (http://members.swata.org/content.php?319-Exciting-News-regarding-Athletic-Training-Terminology!!!)...this is the AT's equivalent to 'The Arnheim'.  

Growth in the athletic training profession doesn't just take many, many people, working toward one goal.  It takes persistence, re-evaluation of goals, accountability, and, most importantly, remembering our past.  One of my favorite people is Paul Zeek (pictured below).  He was the first licensed athletic trainer in the united states.  You can find him at the annual SWATA conference.  He seems eager to talk with anyone and has always been a pleasure to visit with.  

I would love to hear commentary from Mr. Zeek regarding the evolution of the profession.  When he started his career, there was no CAATE, NATA Research and Education Foundation or state organizations.  His position was 'trainer' to most people.  There was no choice between 'internship' and 'accredited'.  Were there 'practice models' and 'clinically relevant research'? Was there 'name confusion' when he said that he was an athletic trainer?  The path that this profession has taken started way before Mr. Zeek.  However, creating a licensure was probably one of the  first major milestone that the profession had ever seen!!!  

In the short time that I have been in the profession, my passion for it has only grown.  It grew exponentially on the night of September 2, 2011 when a football player collapsed and was experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  The responsibility and the expectation of care fell on athletic trainers that night.  Because of proper care, that athlete is now healthy and attending Rice University.  

I hope that the passion that started you out in the beginning is still there.  That you have the desire to grow with the profession...or better yet, give the profession a boost with your involvement.  Those who managed a career out of rubs and poultices deserve to be remembered and honored.  What better way to do that than to continue the good name of this profession.  

What is your story?  How did you get started in all of this?  How are you involved?  Do you still have that passion?

PS:  A wonderful history book is 'Far Beyond the Shoe Box' by Richard G. Ebel.  

People Watching

I LOOOOOOOVE to 'People Watch'!  It's my favorite.  I once watched a woman for several minutes as she, from the best that I could tell, tried to remove a spider web that had surely attacked her.  Another person was picking his nose.  He was so comfortable doing this that you would think that he was the only one in the whole entire world!  Diggin' for gold, I tell ya'!

However, that being said, I wonder who is 'people watching' me?!?!  How many times has someone nudged their friend and said, "Oh. My. Gosh!  Did you just see Woodall (fill in the blank)!?!?!"  Ugh!  How many times have I done something so embarrassing that someone chose to watch me, instead of the game!  Plenty of times, I am sure!  I can be cluelessly animated at times.  

My point here is that we are all being watched, even when we are not the center of attention.  Imagine standing on the sideline of a mundane evening in the spring.  You are chatting quietly with a coach from another sport that has wandered onto the sideline.  One eye is on the field and the other is on the bench, making sure that all is as calm as it appears.  All in one moment, all at the same time, multiple 'people watchers' could be watching you.  All of which would have a different opinion of you and what you do.   

• One person could be scowling at you because you followed policy and procedure, which meant that things didn't go their way.
• Another could be appreciating you from a distance because their child was treated well and was taken care of.
• Yet another could be  plotting against you because your goal of injury prevention doesn't mesh with their goal of winning at all cost.
• One more could be feeling sorry for you because you 'do not have a life'.
• A whole slew of students could be grumbling because seeing you just reminded them about morning treatments.  
• Every once in a while you might get someone who looks at you from a distance and instantly knows that they would be in the best care possible should tragedy strike.   

If I had to guess, I would imagine that many 'people watchers' look at us with bewilderment.  "Who is this person that is ALWAYS here?"  or "How can I get on the sideline, too?!?" or "I'm not sure who that is, but they seem to be in charge when there is an injury."  For many reasons, I think that most people are confused about us!  Maybe they had an athletic trainer when they were in high school and because of the ever changing profession, they don't understand it anymore...or they never really understood it in the first place.  Maybe, like me, they didn't have an athletic trainer in high school.  The thought is outrageous to them.  

I challenge you to always be on your best behavior!  We are being watched.  For many different reasons, we are being watched.  Days get long and the evenings get even longer.  I know that in the spring we are clocking about 75 hours a week.  Stay professional and stay positive.  You very well may be the first person that an athlete sees at school and also the last.  You have a unique opportunity to set a kiddo up for success for the day, and also to send them home with a positive attitude.  Use this to your advantage!  You might just accidentally promote the profession in the process!