Athletic Trainers are Geniuses!!!!!!

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“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

― Albert Einstein

Many times, coaches and other staff find their way to a treatment table in my athletic training room...I can't count how many younger siblings I treat of formally injured athletes...and how many neighbors and neighbors' children have I evaluated for various injuries?  

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” ― George MacDonald

However,  if I tried to build a house, sail a boat, or even update my iPhone, I would appear dumb and, at the very least, inexperienced.  

People seek the advice of an athletic trainer because of the education and experience that an athletic trainer possesses.  Just as I would seek a builder if I wanted a new home...or ask  one of my cool uncles to take me out on their sailboat if I wanted to go sailing...or ask Josh to update my iPhone when it goes haywire, I go to the expert, the person that I feel is going to give me the most quality solution to my questions.  

As the profession and perception of athletic training evolves, there are a few questions that one should ask themselves.  Answering these questions will certainly define your role and show your expertise, not only to yourself and co-workers, but also to your stakeholders.

• What does our public value and how do we, as athletic trainers, cater to that?
• Athletic trainers must justify our value and tell the public why we are valuable.
• The appearance of disorganization is devastating to the public view.
• Too many people still think of ATs as ‘good ole boys’; These people do not know our capabilities.  We must inform them.  Give yourself credibility!  
• Define your individual function.  Define your overall purpose.  Perform your function in a way that serves that purpose.  
• You are the smartest person in your athletic training room.  Prove it.  

― A personal reflection of a lecture from Danny Lovett

Athletic trainers are geniuses in the athletic training room and whether you realize it or not, people know that!