PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS

Skills
1. Strong organizational skills
2. Strong interpersonal and communication skills
3. Ability to make decisions
4. Supervision/management skills
Training Modules Required
1. Continuing education units for State Licensure/National Board requirements
2. Computer training
3. Training of athletic/professional staff in current injury management procedures
4. Ability to assist in application of curriculum-based program for student athletic trainers

QUALIFICATIONS

Professional
1. Current licensing by the Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Training
2. National Athletic Trainer’s Association BOC credential preferred or eligible
3. Previous athletic training experience in the high school or clinical setting required and college athletic training experience preferred
Personal
1. Ability to communicate with various personalities.
2. Ability to adapt to change and handle multiple tasks at once.
3. Highly motivated
4. Strong work ethic
5. Desire to serve others

BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Injury Prevention
2. Injury Recognition
3. Injury Management/Treatment
4. Injury Rehabilitation
5. Program Organization, Administration, and Supervision
6. Education and Counseling

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

A. Injury Prevention
1. Pre-season physical exams, especially to identify and protect pre-existing physical conditions that might predispose athlete to injury.
2. Coordinate with strength and conditioning coach and be able to create and carry out post-season, off-season, pre-season and in-season basic
3. conditioning programs to assist the athlete in gaining and maintaining maximum physical conditioning.
4. Must be able to construct and apply all types of protective devices, including taping and bracing.
5. Assist the assistant/associate athletic trainer/s, coaching staff and equipment manager in monitoring safe and unsafe conditions, including environmental concerns, equipment and playing fields.
B. Injury Recognition and Evaluation
1. Must have a thorough knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and biomechanics to properly assess the seriousness of an injury.
2. Knowledge and application of determining the extent of an injury.
3. Current CPR/First Aid certified.
C. Injury Management
1. Ability to provide proper emergency medical care.
2. Ability to provide therapeutic treatment regimens to aid recovery.
3. Making prompt and appropriate medical referrals.
4. Coordinate the proper channels for the Health Care Team, including General Practitioner, Orthopedic Surgeon and other specialists.
D. Injury Rehabilitation
1. Skilled in creating and facilitating exercise rehabilitation and other therapeutic methods for full restoration of an athlete.
2. Assess, by objective measurement, when goals and recovery have been achieved, thus minimizing risk of re-injury. This includes intermittent testing and re-evaluation.
E. Program Organization, Administration, and Supervision
1. Maintain and update a comprehensive medical records program including daily injury records, permanent health records, rehabilitation reports, follow-up care, inventory, release forms, SOAP notes, referral forms, injury status and any information relating to the physical condition of all intercollegiate athletes.
2. Careful and efficient budget management. Provide budgetary oversight and accountability for the Director of Strength & Conditioning
3. Work in tandem with the Strength & Conditioning program to provide a consistent, healthy, and safe experience for ACU student-athletes and staff.
4. Working in tandem with the assistant/associate athletic trainer/s to establish and carry out policies and procedures for daily operation of the athletic training program and support personnel.
5. Work in tandem with the Masters of Athletic Training Program to provide a quality learning environment for the student athletic trainers.
6. Facility upkeep, maintain facility and equipment in good working condition. Managing day-to-day operations of the training room.
7. Coordinate and initiate the filing of all medical claims and payments relating to intercollegiate athletic injuries.
8. Creating and enforcing standard policies and procedures for all sports.
9. Coordinate all drug-testing programs related to NCAA and Southland membership as well as ACU mandated policies and procedures.
F. Education and Counseling
1. Instructs athletes and coaches on the condition of an injury and procedures necessary for the fastest recovery.
2. Provide information to coaches, faculty, parents and community when applicable.
3. Provide on-going instruction to assistants, student trainers and paraprofessionals in the program.
4. Create the necessary learning environment for student trainers to gain licensure upon graduation.
5. Ability to counsel athletes when necessary and refer them to proper professionals.
6. Communication: Liaison between the physician, athlete, parents and coaches making sure communication is open and adequate.
Other duties may be assigned.