Cowley College head athletic trainer
Jeff Fluty and his athletic training students are gearing up for the 16th annual National Athletic Training Month in March.Athletic trainers must be certified and hold at least a bachelor’s degree, they focus primarily on injury prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation. Athletic trainers are important to the health care team as they aim to lessen the burden on the public and private healthcare systems.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) began hosting this event in the year 2000 in order to promote the role and importance of athletic trainers who work in a variety of settings including professional sports, colleges and universities, high schools, clinics, hospitals, etc. This year’s theme is “We Prepare – You Perform”.
The NATA is hosting a Social Media Contest in March with three $100 Amazon gift cards for prizes. In order to promote the profession, just post a photo or video to the NATA Facebook or Twitter page using the hashtag #NATM2015 and be sure to “like” and “follow” both accounts in order for your entry to be included.
Sophomore athletic training student Robert Harp appreciates the recognition that the National Athletic Training Month brings to this profession.
“A normal day for me consists of 4-6 hours in the athletic training room unless it is a game day, which can run up to 8+ hours. As a second year trainer, I have been entrusted with covering a training room by myself,” Harp said.
Harp also enjoys when the coaches from various teams see that he is dedicated and works hard for them, so they reward him with free team gear.
Athletic training student Justin O’Donnell verified Harp’s statement regarding the hard work that the athletic trainers put in everyday.
“We work between 15-30 hours per week depending on how many games our particular sport has that week and how late their practices last,” O’Donnell said.
These long and hard hours put forth by the athletic training student’s everyday seems like a load in itself, however; these hours don’t include the time they spend in the classroom, studying for exams, and taking care of multiple sports teams.
This year, the NATA is focusing on the importance of pre-participation physicals, having an emergency plan in place, consuming enough water during exercise, avoiding the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful drugs, and having access to an athletic trainer. All of these tips will help to prevent injuries in an athletic setting.
As a way of promoting the NATM, Jeff Fluty has organized digital public marquees at multiple banks in Arkansas City and has also organized an announcement to be made during the home basketball playoff games coming up in the next couple of weeks. He hopes to have an advertisement printed in the programs for that night in hopes that it will reach the attention of everyone in attendance.
Fluty and all of his athletic training students are proud of the work that they put forth in order to take care of the Cowley athletes every time they perform.
