Athletic Training

Choosing a vocation can be a daunting task. With the world ever-evolving, one may come across a new attractive career every year. In order to ensure optimal job satisfaction, it is vital to educate oneself about every alluring prospect prior to committing. Simple factors like the time commitment and salary can mean the difference between a content existence and a miserable one.

To satisfy my curiosity and gain a broad understanding of athletic training, I chose to interview my boss, Pete Stevens. Pete is employed by Physiotherapy Associates, a nationwide corporation that specializes in physical/occupational therapy, athletic training, and fitness/sports training. He has worked there for three years. He is currently the Head Athletic Trainer for The Arizona Rattlers. Pete received his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training at Boise State University in Idaho, followed by a graduate degree in Recreation from Arizona State University. He is currently considering additional education to become a Physician’s Assistant.

There is a wide range of responsibilities for an athletic trainer, as they may work in many different environments. The general duties include assessment/diagnosis, rehabilitation, treatment and prevention of athletic injuries, and basic medical care. The specialized duties for an athletic trainer at the high school level will be very different than those at a professional level. This is due to a categorical distinction, as there is far more team funding at the professional level than in college or high school. Their tasks also vary greatly by sport, as contact/high intensity team sports typically produce more injuries than do single player sports. Athletic trainers in a clinic or hospital setting...

... middle of paper ...

...es to athletic training it is not surprising that many trainers enjoy their occupation, moreover Pete Stevens.

After a season of working with Pete, I have an enhanced understanding of his occupation. Throughout the season I have been striving to attain as much knowledge and experience as possible. I frequently ask questions about our professional football operations and his involvement and responsibilities to the organization, which he is always more than willing to take the time to explain. I speak with him regularly about trends in the psychological effects of injuries, as well as injury trends per sports and per football position. Through his generosity and motivation he demonstrates his knowledge and love of the profession. I have no doubt these factors have led him to be successful and desire the same things for his athletic training interns.

.