What Does a Sports Medicine Trainer Do?

A sports medicine trainer is a professional who helps athletes prevent and recover from injuries. They work with all types of athletes, from weekend warriors to professional athletes.

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Job Description

Sports medicine trainers work with athletes to help prevent, treat, and rehabilitation injuries. They work with all types of athletes, including professional, amateur, and youth athletes. Sports medicine trainers typically have a bachelor’s degree in athletic training, exercise physiology, or a related field.

Duties of a Sports Medicine Trainer

A sports medicine trainer is responsible for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. They work with athletes of all levels to help them stay healthy and improve their performance.

The duties of a sports medicine trainer include:
-Creating training and rehabilitation programs for athletes
-Identifying injuries and providing treatment
-Educating athletes on injury prevention
-Coordinating with other members of the medical team, such as doctors and physical therapists

Sports medicine trainers must have a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine or a related field. They must also be certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification.

Education and Training

Trainers who want to work in sports medicine must have, at the very least, a high school diploma. Many have undergraduate degrees in a field such as kinesiology, exercise science, or physical therapy. Specific training in sports medicine is also essential.

Required Education

Most sports medicine trainers have a bachelor’s degree in athletic training, physical education, or a related field. Athletic trainers must be certified by the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC). Many states also regulate athletic trainers.

In order to become certified, individuals must graduate from an accredited educational program and pass a comprehensive exam. In addition, certified athletic trainers must complete continuing education requirements in order to maintain their certification.

Recommended Training

There are a few ways you can become a certified athletic trainer. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) offers the Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) credential. To be eligible to take the ATC exam, you must have a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from an accredited educational institution and complete a professional degree program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

There are currently more than 450 CAATE-accredited professional athletic training programs across the United States. Once you have completed an accredited program, you will be eligible to sit for the ATC exam. The exam is a computer-based test that consists of 200 multiple-choice questions.

In addition to the ATC credential, many states also require athletic trainers to be licensed or registered in order to practice. Requirements vary by state, but usually include passing the ATC exam as well as meeting other criteria such as completing a certain number of hours of supervised clinical experience.

Skills and Qualities

Sports medicine trainers are responsible for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries that occur during physical activity. They work with athletes of all levels to help them stay healthy and improve their performance. To be successful in this field, trainers must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They must also be able to work well under pressure and have a deep knowledge of the human body.

Important Skills and Qualities

Below are some important skills and qualities that sports medicine trainers need to have:

-Analytical skills. Sports medicine trainers need to be able to break down a player’s movements and identify any areas of improvement.
-Communication skills. Sports medicine trainers need to be able to effectively communicate with players, coaches, and other members of a team’s staff.
-Decision-making skills. Sports medicine trainers need to be able to make quick decisions in often chaotic situations.
-Interpersonal skills. Sports medicine trainers need to be able to build relationships of trust with the athletes they work with.
-Leadership skills. Sports medicine trainers may be called upon to lead a team of support staff in the absence of the head trainer.
-Organizational skills. Sports medicine trainers need to be able to keep track of a large number of athletes’ medical records and treatment plans.
-Physical stamina. Sports medicine trainers often have to work long hours, including evenings and weekends.
-Problem-solving skills. Sports medicine trainers need to be able solve problems quickly and efficiently

Salary and Job Outlook

Sports medicine trainers are in charge of developing and implementing injury prevention programs. They also provide rehabilitation services to athletes who have been injured. These professionals work with all types of athletes, from weekend warriors to professional athletes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the job outlook for sports medicine trainers will be good in the next decade.

Salary

The average salary for a sports medicine trainer is $49,000. The top 10% of earners make over $80,000, while the bottom 10% earn less than $30,000.

##Job Outlook

Employment of sports medicine trainers is expected to grow 15% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The increasing interest in physical fitness and the aging baby-boomer population will continue to spur demand for sports medicine trainers.

Job Outlook

Employment of athletics and fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 13 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Job prospects should be best for those who have certification from an accredited organization.

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a sports medicine-related field—such as exercise science, kinesiology, or physical therapy—will have the best job prospects. However, many programs offer only limited clinical experience, so graduates often complete an internship or earn certification before they enter the job market.