The Sports Trainer

As a Sports Trainer you should be constantly aware of how to:

• Prevent an injury from occurring initially
• Prevent further injury from occurring
• Prevent the recurrence of an injury

• Adhere to accepted safety & privascy practices
• Develop positive relationships with health care professionals
• Communicate effectively with athletes, coaches, parents, and health care professionals
• Identify continuing professional development programs and options
• Create a fair and equitable sporting environment
• Appreciate ethical issues surrounding first aid and sports medicine
• Handle, maintain and store sports medicine euipment

• First aid and emergency care of athletes
• Athlete health & well being
• Athlete education and development
• Legal documentation and responsibility
• Sporting official and admnistration decision makers
• Athlete performance
• Budgeting

Sport Trainer Code of Ethics

• It is the primary role of the Accredited Sports Trainer to apply his/her knowledge and skills to help make sport and recreation safer. This is achieved by implementing appropriate injury prevention regimes; in the case of injury, applying appropriate initial management procedures; and referring injuries, as necessary, to a more qualified health professional for further advice and management.

• The Sports Trainer must clearly understand their defined roles and responsibilities and has a moral responsibility to work within the limits of their qualifications and hence not assume roles outside of those predetermined ones. In keeping within the limits of their qualifications, the Sports Trainer must, if appropriate, refer injuries to a more qualified health professional.

• Assure athletes and yourself that your actions are at all times unambiguously professional, and appreciate the importance of seeking to defuse anxiety and apprehension before touching an athlete by means of verbal explanation of your intention

• Sports Trainers are trained to provide definite skills and knowledge (as outlined in the roles and responsibilities) to sports clubs / sporting /school events and it is acceptable to receive remuneration for their time and involvement with that club/event/school. It is, however, clearly inappropriate and outside of the role in which the Sports Trainer is educated, for a Sports Trainer to offer him/herself as a primary health care practitioner and charge on a fee-for-service basis.

• If a Sports Trainer is found to be acting outside of the above guidelines they will be investigated by SMA and possibly have their certification/accreditation revoked.

Injury Report Form

• Provide a record of observations, assessment and management of an injury
• Ensures key steps of the assessment regime are not omitted
• Provide a national standard
• Ensure an athletes accurate history is kept

Medical Record Form

Ensure the Sports Trainer is aware of an athlete's specific medical conditions and emergency contact details

Annual Report

The club administrator should be given an annual report on the roles and activities of the club's Sports Trainers and Sports First Aider over the previous 12 months.

Supply and Equipment Inventory

• Inventories of equipment and disposable items should be kept
• Reusable equipment
• Disposable supplies
• Ensure supplies are replenished and provides a means for forecasting future supplies

Sports Trainer's Room

When organising a sports trainer's room consider the following:

• What is the function of the room?
• Is any specialised equipment required?
• How many teams/athletes will it need to accommodate?
• How many staff need to work in the area?

When designing a sports trainer's room consider the following:

• Size
• Location
• Structure, e.g. ceiling, walls, floor, lighting, temperature, telephone, etc.
• Organisation/layout Equipment required

Continuing Education

It is the responsibility of the sports trainer to keep up to date with current information.

Sports Trainers Room

• Ensure everyone knows the set procedure for emergency situations
• Prepare handouts on the management of common injuries
• Ensure that the athletes understand the behaviour that is expected of them

Club/Organisation

Ensure that both you and the club have a clear understanding of roles and expectations

Athlete

Be confident and diligent in your roles and win the trust and confidence of your athletes through accurate advice and competent management of injuries.