Why I Want To Be An Athletic Trainer

Reflection

Within the field of exercise science, there are numerous career opportunities to choose from based on one’s particular goals and desires in life. For myself, there has been one particular job title that has been influential and important to my life as an athlete; that is an athletic trainer. An athletic trainer is responsible for more that meets the eye and it truly is a job you have to want to do which requires extreme dedication.

At the University of Great Falls, Brad Beffert, ATC, is the head athletic trainer. He began his athletic training career after transferring from a school that did not meet his educational needs. He decided to attend South Dakota University where the sports medicine field was highly competitive. During

his four years, his first two years were all prerequisites then his final two years were completely dedicated to athletic training. His last years two gave him numerous opportunities to practice what he was continually learning. Beffert was required to obtain 1,800 service hours among other things to stay in the program. To do this he worked with different athletic teams for six weeks at a time which allowed him a broad range of experience in athletic training. In his final year at the university, he was to be assigned to a sports team of his choice. Beffert wanted to work with wrestlers because he was educated in that aspect but the program director had a different plan; he was placed in the athletic training room. At the time Beffert was upset about his placement but it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to him.
Athletic trainers that run the training room have massive amounts of responsibility.

They have to deal with every athlete that comes in, decide who gets to meet with the doctor, rehabilitate athletes that come in, handle the budget, keep inventory, and communicate effectively with coaches and medical personnel (1). In most athletic training facilities, the head trainer is male. Gender stereotyping is not as prevalent in athletic training as it is in other professions, but there are a few barriers that prevent women from rising to that position. A study showed female athletic trainers in the head position did not seek that role but assumed the role of head athletic trainer due to strong job performance. However, things such as life-balancing and parenting emerged as barriers to females being head athletic trainers. The resulting responsibilities and additional demands were potential problems for females in the field (2). It is not to say that there are not females that are head athletic trainers but it is not seen as often. Regardless of specific title, being an athletic trainer requires a lot of responsibilities and dedication to the

job.
Before dedicating one’s life to a job, research should be done on the chosen career path to see if it is really something that can be committed to.

A data analysis on a number of athletic trainers found that there were two reoccurring themes: persistence in athletic training and the decision to leave the field. There were a few reasons why people chose to stay in athletic training including marketability and professional growth; however, there were numerous reasons as to why people left the profession. Many left the field due to low compensation, lack of interest in the field, and how much time needed to be committed to the job to name a few. The increase in students’ decision to leave athletic training stems from the lack of information known about the commitment required in their education and throughout the profession. Simply talking about someone’s future and requirements in athletic training as well as highlighting the importance of professional growth could decrease the retention rates of athletic trainers (3). For Beffert, dedicating all of his free time and energy to the athletes of the University of Great Falls is not an issue; he loves what he does and that is just a small price to

pay.
Hearing Beffert speak about how much work being a head athletic trainer is and reading the article about retention rates makes me realize how important it is to do research on my chosen career choice. Knowing all I can about physical therapy (PT) and what it is like working in that profession is beneficial to me and to sports medicine. When I found out continuing education is a major component of sports medicine professions, at first I was taken aback and even questioned it; moreover, everything about continuing my education made sense. Research is constantly being conducted and there are new and better ways to do things that are discovered every day, so the importance of continuing education in this field is monumental. By being sure PT is what I want to do with my life, I know I am not wasting my time, nor am I wasting the time of professors in the profession. Sometimes things happen and people change their minds about their career paths, but I feel as though I need to know all I can so there are not any surprises when pursuing this career. Being properly educated on the matter ensures that I am ready for what I signed up for.
There are going to be pros and cons with any job no matter the field of work. By doing my best during my undergraduate and graduate education and properly educating myself on what is expected in this particular field, I have no doubt in my mind that I will be prepared for [most] things thrown my way, and that I am going to love what I do.