MARCH: NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINING MONTH

By Gene Willis, Director of Marketing

March brings about much excitement in the sports world. The freshness and hope of baseball spring training and opening day for Major League Baseball. The excitement of collegiate basketball tournaments on all levels, with last-second miracles. The first full month of NASCAR’s auto racing schedule. High school track and field meets, golf tournaments, and other interscholastic competitions take shape.

None of these events would be possible without proper medical care from allied health professionals. They’re a core part of the “team behind the team” that works compassionately for the health and safety of athletes. March is a celebration of certified athletic trainers (ATCs)  – “National Athletic Training Month” – with organizations throughout sport supporting their work. Support and follow the movement online with the hashtag #NATM2018.

Since 2013, Drug Free Sport has provided more than $85,000 toward the assistance of certified athletic trainer continuing education opportunities.  We are continuing this outreach with our Continuing Education Awards competition, supporting high school and collegiate ATCs who are on the front lines of preventing drug abuse and dietary supplement misuse.

Last year, five recipients used Drug Free Sport Continuing Education Awards to attend industry conferences while also earning valuable continuing educational units (CEUs) from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), via the Board of Certification (BOC). The judging committee for the awards is comprised of a diverse group of sport drug testing professionals and certified athletic trainers, including two former award recipients.

Applications are due by Saturday, March 31. Visit the award website for more information – or take a shortcut and submit on our application site, with our partners at The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

2017 Drug Free Sport Continuing Education Award (Certified Athletic Trainers)

By Gene Willis, Director of Marketing

As a part of our overall service of the student-athlete communities, we work daily with certified athletic trainers from around the country. We hear about the challenges that they face with their around-the-clock schedules, putting their athletes first and working to grow in their chosen professions. They’re trusted with the most intimate details of a student-athlete’s life, along with their overall health and recovery. It’s far more than the taping and health care management. These men and women are on the front lines of sharing information about drug abuse, dietary supplement information and overall well-being.

It’s for these reasons that Drug Free Sport created a Continuing Education Award,  specific to certified athletic trainers working in high schools and collegiate communities. In the past five years, Drug Free Sport has awarded more than $23,000 to talented health care professionals. Here’s a few of our recent winners:

To apply for the Drug Free Sport Continuing Education Award,visit the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation’s application site. 

All applications must be completed by Friday, March 31, 2017. Awards, at a minimum of $1,000 each, will be announced by the week of May 1, made payable to the employing educational institution or non-for-profit entity and the certified athletic trainer.

If you have questions, please contact Gene Willis, Director of Marketing, at Drug Free Sport (gwillis@drugfreesport.com).