Student Aide

Athletic Training Program

Handbook

GreenHigh School

The GreenHigh School Athletic Training Student Aide Program is designed to introduce students to the athletic training profession.

Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) – A medical professional who has completed a baccalaureate or higher degree which includes such courses as: human anatomy and physiology, nutrition, acute care of injury and illness, etc., has completed a supervised clinical experience, passed the National Board of Certification examination, is licensed to practice by the state, and has meet continuing education credits on a yearly basis. (Note: athletic trainers are not licensed in all states, but all are certified.) They are experts in preventing, recognizing, managing, and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. As a part of a complete healthcare team, the ATC works under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other healthcare professionals, athletic administrators, coaches, and parents.

Student Aide – Unlicensed supportive personnel who functions under the direct supervision of an athletic trainer and performs designated routine tasks related to the operation of athletic training. The student aide will be given opportunities to assist the licensed athletic trainer in his/her duties of prevention, recognition, immediate care, treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of athletic injuries as well as the organization of the athletic training facility (see Appendix A).

Student Aide

Program Goals, Criteria, and Training

Goal:

Develop young professional students with an appreciation for the athletic training career.

Criteria:

Academic eligibility – as defined by the Green High School Handbook for participation in athletics.

Student Aide Training:

  1. Student aides will be required to do an introductory 30 hours in the athletic training room where they will receive hands on training in regards to the normal operation and organization of the athletic training room, wound care, R.I.C.E principle, and injury management.
  2. Student aides will be taught CPR/AED for Adult and Child. They will receive their CPR card through the American Heart Association. This certification will be good for 2 years. We will review CPR annually, but recertify every 2 years. A copy of this card will remain in the athletic training room.
  3. Student aides will continue to receive hand-on training throughout their involvement in the program. They will only be allowed to assist at their level of proficiency. They will have an EducationalChecklist which will have skills (taping techniques, blister management, etc.) to complete (see Appendix B). The student aides will need to understand the skill, demonstrate it properly and with good quality. Once they become proficient at a skill the Certified Athletic Trainer will allow them to use their skills on athletes under supervision.
  4. Student aides will have an opportunity to attend additional educational activities throughout the year (e.g. a summer student aide athletic training camp).

Required forms to be on file in the athletic training room prior to participation in the student aide program:

  1. Green High School Athletic Department Forms Packet (see Appendix C)
  2. Student Aide Interest Form (see Appendix D)
  3. Acknowledgement of Receiving and Understanding the Student Aide Handbook (see Appendix E)

Student Aide Responsibilities Under the Supervision of a Certified Athletic Trainer:

  1. Report to the athletic training room on assigned days to assist with designated routine tasks in the athletic training room.
  2. Assist in daily cleaning and organizing of athletic training room and supplies.
  3. Assist in cleaning and organizing first aid kits pre and post season.
  4. Assist with hydration of athletes for events and practices on your assigned day.
  5. Do not work outside of your expertise. Never evaluate an injury or determine ability to return to play. The Certified Athletic Trainer must determine return to play. However, in the absence of the ATC the coach must make return to play decisions.
  6. All injuries, no matter how minor they seem, must be reported to the Certified Athletic Trainer.
  7. Do not provide any treatments for which you have not been checked-off by the Certified Athletic Trainer on your educational checklist.
  8. Any and all treatments given to athletes must be recorded on the computer in Sportsware (high school athletes) or on the daily treatment log (non-athletes or middle school athletes). It is important to keep accurate records (see Appendix F).

Dress Code:

Student aides are members of an athletic training staff, they represent this staff and appropriate professional dress is important.

Game Coverage Attire:

  • Khaki pants or dress pants (no jeans or windpants)
  • Collared shirt (tucked in) or a jacket identifying you as a student aide

Practice Coverage Attire:

  • Jeans, windpants, or shorts (length must extend beyond fingertips) are acceptable
  • T-shirts may be worn (must be able to be tucked in)

General Dress Code Rules:

  • No hats are to be worn indoors
  • If you wear a skirt or dress shoes to school, change prior to your assigned day.
  • No tank tops, scoop neck shirts, or bare midriff tops are allowed at any time. If skin is exposed upon raising your arms overhead, you should not wear the top.
  • Pants should not expose underclothing.
  • Shorts may be worn during appropriate seasons but must be mid-thigh in length.
  • Clothing must be loose and comfortable to allow you to perform your required duties.
  • Must be well groomed

Dress code is at the discretion of the staff Certified Athletic Trainer to determine what is appropriate. Students not following the dress code will be in violation of student aide rules.

Student Aide Rules of Conduct:

  1. The things you say and do reflect on the student aide athletic training program and the Certified Athletic Trainers. You are expected to act professional at all times. This includes being on time, dressing appropriately according to the dress code, and being fair and impartial to all athletes.
  2. Be dependable and responsible. You are making a commitment to the student aide program. You are expected to attend all assigned/chosen training room hours, games or practices. If you have a conflict, you are expected to inform the Certified Athletic Trainer and possibly find a replacement to cover for you.
  3. Respect every athlete, coach, school staff member, and official you come in contact with. You are representing your school and the profession of athletic training.
  4. Never discuss an athlete’s injury or condition with anyone except the athlete or the Certified Athletic Trainer.
  5. Absolutely no homework, reading, headphones, games, texting, or phone calls during games. Our duty is to pay attention to the game so that we can see how injuries happen and react quickly to treating the injury.
  6. Phone calls and texting should be limited while you are working in the athletic training room.

Practice Conduct and Duties:

  1. Arrive early enough to provide treatments to athletes and come appropriately dressed.
  2. If the Certified Athletic Trainer is not present, the coach is in charge.
  3. Before practice: prepare water bottles/coolers, check first aid kit, and prepare ice bags for practice.
  4. During practice: you must be in the athletic training room or observing practice at all times.
  5. When an injury occurs, notify the Certified Athletic Trainer or coach immediately. In the absence of the Certified Athletic Trainer you are to assist the coach. The coach is to take care of all injuries. You are allowed to assist him/her by getting ice, the first aid kit, and helping to control bleeding.
  6. In the absence of the Certified Athletic Trainer, fill out a student aide injury report for all injuries. The student aide injury report should be given to the Certified Athletic Trainer. This will serve as an added communication tool(see Appendix G). This does not take place of the immediate phone call to the Certified Athletic Trainer when an injury occurs.
  7. Student aides are not allowed to tape any injuries if they are not supervised by a Certified Athletic Trainer.
  8. In the event of an emergency, assist the coach or ATC.
  9. After practice: provide treatments, clean water containers, disinfect tables, empty ice bags, organize athletic training room, and record treatments.
  10. Student aides may only leave if all clean-up duties are complete, all athletes have been cared for, they have recorded their hours worked (see Appendix H), and they have checked with the Certified Athletic Trainer or coach.

Game Conduct and Duties:

  1. Be on time and dressed appropriately. If you are unsure of the proper dress for the event that you are covering, ask before the event.
  2. Arrive early enough to provide treatments to athletes.
  3. Do not provide treatment for an athlete unless you are under the direct supervision of a Certified Athletic Trainer.
  4. If the Certified Athletic Trainer is not present, the coach is in charge.
  5. Before game: prepare water bottles/coolers, check first aid kit, and prepare ice bags for the game.
  6. Student aides must ride the bus to and from scheduled events. If you miss the bus, you may not provide your own transportation to the game.
  7. Prior to an away game, seek out and introduce yourself as a “Student Aide” to the host Certified Athletic Trainer.
  8. Student aides are to sit on the bench with the team during the game.
  9. When an injury occurs, notify the Certified Athletic Trainer or coach immediately. When at an away event, the host Certified Athletic Trainer is to evaluate the injury. In the absence of the Certified Athletic Trainer you are to assist the coach. The coach is to take care of all injuries. You are allowed to assist him/her by getting ice, the first aid kit, and helping to control bleeding.
  10. In the absence of the Certified Athletic Trainer, fill out a student aide injury report for all injuries.The student aide injury report should be given to the Certified Athletic Trainer. This will serve as an added communication tool (see Appendix G). This does not take place of the immediate phone call to the Certified Athletic Trainer when an injury occurs.
  11. Student aides are not allowed to tape any injuries if they are not supervised by a Certified Athletic Trainer, or at an away event by the host Certified Athletic Trainer.
  12. In the event of an emergency, assist the coach or ATC.
  13. Pay attention to the game and be prepared for an injury to occur at all times.
  14. Do not make critical comments about an athlete’s performance or an official’s call.
  15. After game: provide treatments, clean water containers, disinfect tables, empty ice bags, organize athletic training room, and record treatments.
  16. Student aides may only leave if all clean-up duties are complete, all athletes have been cared for, they have recorded their hours worked (see Appendix H), and they have checked with the Certified Athletic Trainer or coach.

Athletic Training Room Rules:

  1. The athletic training room is a medical facility and must be treated as such. It must be kept neat, clean, and organized at all times.
  2. No one is to be in the athletic training room without supervision by the Certified Athletic Trainer or other school staff.
  3. Never treat an athlete alone in the athletic training room under any circumstances.
  4. This is not a self-help facility. If an athlete needs treatment or supplies, you are to assist him/her.
  5. All treatments are to be recorded.
  6. Never leave the athletic training room unattended. If you need to leave, lock the door behind you.
  7. The athletic training room is not a lounge or social room. Horseplay, visiting, loitering, profanity, fraternizing, or shouting will not be tolerated.
  8. No eating is permitted in the athletic training room.
  9. Cleats and spikes are not permitted in the athletic training room.
  10. Shoes are not to be worn or set on the treatment tables.

Emergency Procedures:

If a serious or life threatening situation should arise student aides are to assist the Certified Athletic Trainer or coach. The student aide may be asked to call 911. Please note that on some school phones, you must dial “9” first to get an outside line. While on the phone, ask for an ambulance and provide the operator with the following information:

  1. Your name
  2. The location of the injured person and directions how to get there
  3. The nature and extent of the injury
  4. Any additional information that the operator requests
  5. Do not hang up until the operator asks you to do so

The student aide may also be asked to assist with a number of things which may not be limited to the following:

1. Obtain emergency equipment such as an AED, or splint

2. Be sure that the doors and/or gates to the facility are unlocked

3. Be sure the path is clear from vehicles and spectators

4. Wait for the ambulance and direct the ambulance to the exact

location of the injured person

Use of the Athletic Training Room:

There should always be immediate adult supervision (Certified Athletic Trainer or coach) in the athletic training room. Services are to be provided for all athletes in the following order: In-season athletes will be serviced first, then pre-season, and out-of-season athletes last. Under certain circumstances this order may be changed under the direction of the Certified Athletic Trainer.

Injury Discussion and Privacy Practices:

Do not discuss the health status of an athlete with anyone, other than the athleteor a Certified Athletic Trainer. Never discuss injury information with friends, press, or radio personnel. Direct all questions pertaining to the health status of an athlete to the Certified Athletic Trainer.

Chain of Command for Health Care of Athletes:

  1. Team Physician/Family Physician
  2. Certified Athletic Trainer
  3. Coach
  4. Student Aide

Chain of Command for Conflict Resolution:

When there is a conflict with a student aide program related concern, the following chain of command should be followed. If the conflict is between student aides, the matter should simply be brought to the attention of the Certified Athletic Trainer. It is the responsibility of the Certified Athletic Trainer to provide equal treatment to all participants in the program.

  1. Certified Athletic Trainer
  2. Athletic Director
  3. Manager for SummaCenter for Sports Health

Sports Medicine Team Members:

Team/Family Physician

The physician is responsible for making the final decision in all return to participation matters. When an athlete is seen by a physician, whether referred by the Certified Athletic Trainer or not, the athlete may not return to play without a clearance note from the treating physician.

Certified Athletic Trainer

The Certified Athletic Trainer has full responsibility for the athletic training program and all of its student members. She has the final decision in conjunction with the athletic director concerning all areas of the sports medicine branch of the athletic department. The Certified Athletic Trainer will work together with the athletic director to sort out any issues that may arise.

Coach

In the absence of a physician or Certified Athletic Trainer, the coach is responsible for all treatment and return to play decisions regarding injuries. While student aides are primarily supervised by the Certified Athletic Trainer, they are also working under coaches and athletic department administrators. If a coach is asking you to do things that you are uncomfortable with or things that do not seem to be your job, notify the Certified Athletic Trainer. If any issues concerning a coach arise, they should be directed to the Certified Athletic Trainer.

Student Aide

Student Aides are aides to the Certified Athletic Trainer. The student aide’s responsibility is to assist the Certified Athletic Trainer in the care of athletic injuries and illnesses. The student aide is not to be considered a team manager or water girl/boy, but a “Student Aide”. Student aides should respect and cooperate with the coaching staff. Student aides must act and look professional in order to gain respect from the coaching staff and athletes. Student aides must work well together and respect one another.

Violation of Student Aide Rules:

Any violation of the Rules of Conduct or Duties, Athletic Training Room Rules, or the Student Aide Dress Code can result in corrective action. Each situation will be handled on an individual basis and is at the discretion of the Certified Athletic Trainer. Violation will result in the following:

1st Offense: Clarification of rules and verbal warning

2nd Offense: 2nd Verbal warning and possible suspension.

3rd Offense: Suspension for the season with possible dismissal from the student aide athletic training program.