By Moses Leos III.
It’s a wrap! Lehman High is teaching the next generation of athletic trainers. It is a fact that sports can be a rough-and-tumble activity. Athletes often incur strains, sprains and cuts, not to mention the occasional broken bone and concussion. But who exactly cares for athletes when they are hurt? Enter the role of the student trainer. They are the behind-the-scenes reason for athletic success.
On Aug. 8, the 2013 group of student trainers at Lehman High began to learn the basics of the job. On that day, the class trained on how to properly wrap extremities and care for wounds. Some were more successful than others. “You’re cutting off circulation,” joked one “patient.” While all in good fun, the class wrapped numerous ankles, fingers and wrists. For Josh Young and Amber King, co-athletic trainers at Lehman, the goal is fairly simple. The repetitions help build confidence to care for athletes. “We want to get them to be confident once they go on the field,” Young said. “We want them to be sure they can take of the little things: taping fingers, ankles, dealing with scrapes.” For the 24 athletes in the Lehman program, learning those skills is crucial. They become an extension of the head trainers, especially when the trainers cannot travel to away games. In addition, student trainers can become first responders to emergency situations. All are required to take a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid course.
Students also gain knowledge of proper stretching techniques. It helps them to provide adequate care for athletes on the field. Mostly, the staff aims to let the students know they are not glorified water dispensers. “We are on the field with the [athletes] at all times,” senior Max Soto said. “They always say, ‘I want this taped, I want that taped.’ If we know how to do that, we can help them get out of the training room faster.”
Of course, dealing with shock is necessary. Young, who in college saw a pitcher take a comebacker to the face, understands how frightening it can be. Staying calm under pressure is key; doing so helps keep the injured athlete from worrying more.
Lehman High athletic trainer Josh Young checks out a football player at a recent practice. (photo by Moses Leos III) |
Senior Brandi Herrera, who has been a student trainer since her sophomore year, understands that concept. “I’ve dealt with a dislocated shoulder, which I reported, and an ACL tear,” she said. “When a situation arises, you have to stay calm.”
Student athletic training also helps those who wish to enter the medical profession by providing a foundation of medicine. According to Young, athletic training has become a growing field in the last ten years. He said larger athletic programs, such as at the University of Texas or Texas State, once had 15 to 20 trainers roaming the sidelines. Today, he estimates 40 or more.
“Anyone who is interested in physical or occupational therapy, or even medical school, realize the benefit of starting as an athletic trainer,” he said. “Those who wanted to become doctors sometimes will stay with athletic training. It gives them the one-on-one with patients and follow up they wouldn’t have otherwise.”
At Lehman High, they’ve taken student training a step further. For the past seven years, the school has held a dedicated sports medicine class. The class gives students a more in-depth look into the workings of student training.
King believes all schools should have the program. Her previous employer did not, which hampered the learning ability for those interested in the profession. “It gives kids a base. At my last school, we did not have a sports medicine class,” King said. “Kids feel better about [sports medicine] when they go through it in high school. They feel better about taping and other aspects of the job.” King, who teaches the advanced sports medicine class, believes it provides students with the necessary standards. “Students are waiting for standards to be set, so they can meet them,” she said. “They like to rise to occasion. The sports medicine class is an opportunity. It guarantees them time to learn different things.”
In the end, the staff hopes to leave an impression on their students. The class has left an impression among many of the athletes. “You can understand more on how to treat and prevent injuries,” Soto said. It also gives future health care professionals an opportunity to help others. “I do enjoy [student training],” senior Andrea Aguilar said. “Just to help people and learn how to assist others.”
