Athletic Training Month: March 2026

When a student-athlete goes down, the first person coaches and parents look for is the athletic trainer. Bridging the gap between medical care and competitive sports, athletic trainers ensure that our students are not only performing at their best but are staying safe and healthy. March is National Athletic Training Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of athletic trainers and the role they play in sports. The theme of this month for 2026 is "Care You Can Count On". This theme emphasizes trust, expertise, and commitment that athletic trainers provide to patients daily. To understand and appreciate Athletic Trainers Month we must also understand all of the things they do for student-athletes. Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals who specialize in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries. Their core responsibilities include: injury prevention, clinical evaluation, emergency care, and treatment. In regards to injury prevention an athletic trainer designs conditioning programs and educates athletes on proper body mechanics, hydration, and nutrition. For clinical evaluation they typically assess athletes on the scene of an injury to determine the severity of an injury and if they can continue playing. Emergency care consists of CPR and AED usage to manage critical incidents like cardiac arrest, concussions, or heat stroke. Lastly, treatment consists of personalized recovery plans involving therapeutic exercise, joint mobilization, and application of protective devices like tape, bandages, and braces. There are so many things that athletic trainers do to help athletes everyday so make sure to stop by the athletic department and let our athletic trainer know how much you appreciate her!

Article by: Gavin Shields