Searcy School District
Sports Medicine and Athletic Trainer Information
Searcy School District is proud to employ its own athletic trainer onsite and offer Sports Medicine courses at Searcy High School. Athletic trainers are medical professionals who focus on prevention, recognition, diagnosis, emergency care and management, as well as rehabilitation of injuries as a result of physical activity. As a member of the healthcare team, the licensed athletic trainer works with licensed physicians and other healthcare providers. school adminstarators, coaches and parents.
Students who are interested in becoming athletic trainers are required to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited athletic training course of study. Accredited programs include instruction in areas like injury/illness prevention, first aid/emergency care, assessment of injury or illness, exercise, and proper nutrition. Students will participate in clinical education experiencees.
Athletic training is different that personal training. To become a certified athletic trainer, students must pass a comprehensive exam administered by the Board of Athletic Training Certification. Once they receive a certificate, they are required to participate in professional development in order to keep their certification and meet the state licensing requirements.
"Searcy Sports Medicine Mission Statement"
Here at Searcy Schools, we believe that physical activities are a vital part of a young person's growth and development. Unfortunately, injuries are an inherent part of physical activity. When a young individual has dedicated much of their personal identity to maintaining a competitive standard in activity and then is no longer able to perform those activities; they can become physically and emotionally distressed. As athletic trainers it is our job to work hand in hand with athletes to rehabilitate them to a return to activity level consistent with or better than they previously achieved. We strive to return our patients to activity as quickly but safely as possible for each individual.
"Treatment/Rehab Times"
New or acute injuries may be evaluated in the mornings during zero hour from 8:00 - 8:30 am and treatment/rehab sessions are from 2:30 - 4:00 pm in the athletic training room (ATR) in the multipurpose facility. Currently, all treatment/rehab sessions will be held in the ATR. However, please contact your athletic trainer to make sure last minute schedule changes haven’t occurred. Treatments are NOT held during your regular academic class hours. If you cannot attend treatment during the scheduled times, please make arrangements with an athletic trainer.
"When your child is injured"
For injuries or illness that occurs outside of athletics related activities the student-athlete will need to notify his/her head and/or position coach and the Athletic Training Staff as soon as possible. All Searcy Athletics related injuries must be reported to the student-athlete's head and/or position coach and the Athletic Training Staff immediately. Licensed Athletic Trainers will perform an initial assessment and either treat the student athlete with our resources or refer him or her to a doctor or specialist. If a referral is needed, we will call the parent/guardian or emergency contact that you have provided on the student information form. Once a doctor has evaluated the student-athlete, we require that you provide documentation from the doctor telling us the diagnosis, prognosis, activity limitations and any instructions for care. When the student athlete is ready to return to activity, we will need a written release from that doctor.
If a referral is not needed, we will inform the coach of the student athlete's status and our plans for treatment. We send daily or weekly injury reports to coaches so that they are aware of the student athlete's progress and treatment. We rely heavily on the student athlete for communication to you; if you have any concerns about an injury or our treatment plan for your child, please do not hesitate to call us. When the student athlete has met our requirements for return to activity, we will notify his or her coach and continue to monitor his or her participation.
If you choose to take your student athlete to a doctor or specialist without a referral from the Athletic Training Staff, it will be even more necessary to provide documentation telling us the diagnosis, prognosis, activity limitations, any instructions for care and a written release to return to activity.