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.
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.
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.
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.
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