Athletic Trainers

[andycureton]

Do any of you guys get use of your schools athletic trainers and training facilities?

This is especially directed to the other MIAC schools. But I am interested in the bigger schools also.

[henrij4]

At Mankato our school laughs in our faces if we ask them for any athletic trainers, even to get a bunch of ice from the training center. It upsets me that our school would do that and we have talked with our schools Campus Rec President and we can seem to get anything because we are not a varsity program is what I've been told.

[TexOle]

St. Olaf students have had access to the trainers on campus during off peak times. Visiting teams do not have access to our trainers for liability purpose. If anyone gets injured on campus public safety can be called (might also give you a parking ticket). There is also an EMT program at St. Olaf which can be called by public safety. If transportation to a hospital is necessary then it will be provided, but you could probably walk to the hospital since it is on college owned lands. You will not get the best care, but it is something. I am not sure if all the St. Olaf students know about what kind of care can be given to visitors. It might have also changed since St. Olaf has a new club sports director which might have helped. Most people lobbied for termination for the old one.

Again I am a few years removed from the team, but I think things are pretty steady there. You can try to reach a member of the team for more information.

[Sonny]

At Mankato our school laughs in our faces if we ask them for any athletic trainers, even to get a bunch of ice from the training center. It upsets me that our school would do that and we have talked with our schools Campus Rec President and we can seem to get anything because we are not a varsity program is what I've been told.

Are they preventing you for paying Mankato trainers?

There is no free lunch at our level of play....

[LaxRef]

At Mankato our school laughs in our faces if we ask them for any athletic trainers, even to get a bunch of ice from the training center. It upsets me that our school would do that and we have talked with our schools Campus Rec President and we can seem to get anything because we are not a varsity program is what I've been told.

Are they preventing you for paying Mankato trainers?

There is no free lunch at our level of play....

While that may be true, I find it sad that a school doesn't even support a registered student organization with basic athletic trainer services. Some schools do a much better job of realizing that student activities are an important part of the college experience and they support those activities, while other schools have the feeling that only NCAA sports are "legitimate."

[TexOle]

Pointing out liability issues to a school helps. St. Olaf realized that if a player was injured on the field then someone could try to hold it liable.

[Dan Warren]

When I was playing and then coaching at Bridgewater State (MA), we were given team trainers when there was an overflow of student trainers in the program. This varied year to year. On the years that we were lucky, it was great. A couple seasons we had 2 trainers present at every practice, and 3 at games. During the times we did not luck out, we had it budgeted for all our home games.

My suggestion would be to approach some of the Mankato student trainers and give them a list of dates that you need coverage. They would probably be asking about $100-150 per game (I think). Steep, but well worth it in the long run.

[henrij4]

That is a possibility and I'll give it a try hopefully it will work.

[Campbell]

When I was playing and then coaching at Bridgewater State (MA), we were given team trainers when there was an overflow of student trainers in the program. This varied year to year. On the years that we were lucky, it was great. A couple seasons we had 2 trainers present at every practice, and 3 at games. During the times we did not luck out, we had it budgeted for all our home games.

My suggestion would be to approach some of the Mankato student trainers and give them a list of dates that you need coverage. They would probably be asking about $100-150 per game (I think). Steep, but well worth it in the long run.

but really that is not too much considering you will get a trainer at your games. When you think about a team with 6 home games that is only $600-$900 which is about what refs cost for a single game. I know that money isn't easy to come by in this league, but when figure spreading out $900 over dues for a 30 man roster thats only $30 a player, less than that if you have some fundraising. To be honest, I think for $100-$150 a game you could probably do better than a student trainer, maybe an EMT/Paramedic, or one of your varsity trainers looking to pick up some extra cash.

[Dulax Trainer]

In regards to getting a trainer, also see if you can get anyone to volunteer as your team trainer. It looks great on a resume.

I am the Minnesota Duluth Lacrosse Trainer, and I volunteer my time to the team. The team does pay for the medical supplies & they cover my travel expense. Maybe see if they would volunteer and the team picks up the supply costs & travel.

[Pinball]

Our school lets use the training room and onsite rehab, but only if your health insurance will cover it. Basically like going to the doctor..........

Whatever its better then nothing and on the positive we got all the ice ad bags anyone would ever need

[Adam Gamradt]

At the Minnesota, we are still looking for a trainer, and have been for a season or two. I would really love to provide one for our guests this weekend, but it simply did not work out.

I should know today if we have an EMT lined up for this weekends Chris Jenkins Invitational. I think we do, at a cost of around 30 bucks an hour or so, for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The cost pales in comparision to what would happen if we had an emergency, and had no help.

I hope very much that the EMT has nothing to do all weekend, and can enjoy the games.

I yearn for the day when our schools recognize the fact that we are athletes, and help us secure a good trainer. I would like to see our organization do more to help facilitate these relationships.

There simply must be a way to set up a mutually beneficial relationship, with the trainers and the teams. A student at Minnesota who volunteers their time should get credit, or an internship. I agree it would be a great learning experience for someone interested in a career in sports medicine.

[horn17]

I hate to say it....but if you go to the HS athletic trainers, they are usually willing to do it on the side as well....I know the BSM Trainer has volunteered to help me out with anything, any time, obviously for a cost....

Usually they have an assistant or two they bring with to help them out, but obviously you foot the bill for the supplies...

[Dan Wishengrad]

In my 8 years at Washington we have never had access to an actual Athletic Trainer. Our Club Sports Coordinator has a small discretionary budget to pay for a Trainer, but none have ever signed up -- and we HAVE asked. There just is too much demand from the ICA (athletics dept.) for their services and they all apparently have no time or interest.

So we got by for years with a Certified First Aider paid for by our IMA (club sports dept.) dispensing ice and bandages at games with the additional comfort of having one of the world's best E.R.s, at the UW Medical Center, only a few long gilman passes away from our playing fields. An ambulance could reach the scene in less than three minutes.

But in 2005 we "won the lottery". Northwest Spine and Sports Physicians, a leading medical specialist practice based in Bellevue, Washington, offered to incorporate coverage of Husky Lacrosse games as part of their Fellowship Program. NWSSP has generously provided -- at no cost -- an actual doctor to sit behind the table area and triage all injured players. These physicians are all sports medicine specialists, and working our games is now part of their formal medical training. For this incredibly charitable contribution from NWSSP the men of Husky Lax remain both extremely fortunate and grateful beyond measure.

[LaxRef]

In my 8 years at Washington we have never had access to an actual Athletic Trainer. Our Club Sports Coordinator has a small discretionary budget to pay for a Trainer, but none have ever signed up -- and we HAVE asked. There just is too much demand from the ICA (athletics dept.) for their services and they all apparently have no time or interest.

So we got by for years with a Certified First Aider paid for by our IMA (club sports dept.) dispensing ice and bandages at games with the additional comfort of having one of the world's best E.R.s, at the UW Medical Center, only a few long gilman passes away from our playing fields. An ambulance could reach the scene in less than three minutes.

But in 2005 we "won the lottery". Northwest Spine and Sports Physicians, a leading medical specialist practice based in Bellevue, Washington, offered to incorporate coverage of Husky Lacrosse games as part of their Fellowship Program. NWSSP has generously provided -- at no cost -- an actual doctor to sit behind the table area and triage all injured players. These physicians are all sports medicine specialists, and working our games is now part of their formal medical training. For this incredibly charitable contribution from NWSSP the men of Husky Lax remain both extremely fortunate and grateful beyond measure.

That sounds fantastic. I don't know what you do to show appreciation, but if it were me at a minimum I'd be buying those guys meals when they showed up, giving them team T-shirts, etc. There's probably no way you could ever pay them for what they're worth, but I'm sure they appreciate any gestures you make.