SAFETY SUPERHEROS

North athletic trainers talk on the importance of keeping our student athletes healthy, the intensive training they provide, and the precautions to avoid injury

The safety of the athletes at the school is critical. To ensure the readiness of every player’s ability to continue playing, it falls to the athletic trainers.

“Most injuries vary on how we determine when an athlete is safe to return to play. We want to make sure the area of injury is stable, this means the soft tissue and bony structures around the injured site are able to hold up to the stresses of the sport. Then we typically put the athlete through some variation of functional testing to make sure they can physically handle the different stresses their sport would require

by Claire McKown

their body to endure,” athletic trainer Jared Hanson said.

North’s trainers are experienced, going through training to achieve the proper assets to accommodate the needs of the students. They work together during and after school at games, practices, and other sport events to ensure safety and proper care.

“Athletic training requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, but has recently transitioned to becoming a master’s degree level profession. Most states require you to be licensed by the state’s board of health and you are required to be certified by the NATA BOC. This requires passing a certification exam,” Hanson said.

Both Jared Hanson and Jeffrey Snow, North’s Athletic Trainers, work to help the students reach their fullest potential athletically. Working with the body and sports is something that the trainers have been doing since they started at Liberty North.

“I chose athletic training because I was amazed by the human body and all the amazing things I could learn about it. I was also someone who wanted to work around sports. Athletic training was a simple choice as it allows me to do both of those things,” Hanson said.

Not only do the Athletic Trainers evaluate the physical attributes of the body, but they help with the mental mindset that comes with the climb from injured to healthy again.

“Psychological aspects that athletes deal with regarding injuries, is something we deal with a lot. After athletes sustain significant injuries, they go through a variety of emotions and we help with those situations quite often.” Hanson said.

North athletic trainers have been a reliable team at the school dedicating their time and energy to provide a fast and speedy recovery for our student athletes. “Athletic trainers are important because sometimes you don’t know if you’re injured, and they’ll help you know your limits,” sophomore Rhett Dickens said.