Athletic Trainers

Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Athletic Instructor; Athletic Lecturer; Athletic Trainer; Certified Athletic Trainer; Personal Trainer; Resident Athletic Trainer; Women's Athletic Trainer

Tasks

• Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete's injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
• Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
• Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
• Evaluate athletes' readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
• Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
• Clean and sanitize athletic training rooms.
• Instruct coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, or community members in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.
• Apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists.
• Collaborate with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.
• Travel with athletic teams to be available at sporting events.
• Plan or implement comprehensive athletic injury or illness prevention programs.
• Inspect playing fields to locate any items that could injure players.
• Advise athletes on the proper use of equipment.
• Confer with coaches to select protective equipment.
• Develop training programs or routines designed to improve athletic performance.

Knowledge

• Medicine and Dentistry
• Customer and Personal Service
• Psychology
• Therapy and Counseling
• English Language
• Education and Training
• Administrative
• Biology
• Public Safety and Security
• Administration and Management

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Learning
• Writing
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Oral Expression
• Written Comprehension
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Oral Comprehension
• Near Vision
• Fluency of Ideas
• Originality
• Flexibility of Closure
• Multilimb Coordination
• Category Flexibility
• Selective Attention
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Finger Dexterity
• Static Strength
• Far Vision