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Who Should Be on the Sideline? Does Your High School Have an Athletic Trainer?

Athletic trainers specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses relating to human movement and activity. Their education also makes them a specialist in emergency care for catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord injuries, sudden cardiac arrest, heat illness and concussions.

In California, Anyone Can Call Themselves an Athletic Trainer REGARDLESS of Their Education and Training.

California is currently the only state that does not regulate the profession of athletic training. There is no legally defined scope of practice describing what an athletic trainer may or may not do. This causes several issues:

  • Anyone can call themselves an athletic trainer, regardless of their education.
  • There are currently people working in this state without proper training and calling themselves an athletic trainer. The young athletes in their care and their parents have no idea that they aren't properly trained.
  • There is no mechanism for the public to file a complaint against an athletic trainer and have it investigated.

The CATA has sponsored a bill (AB1592) that would license the athletic training profession and protect athletes and the physically active from unqualified individuals who are posing as athletic trainers in California.

What is HAPPENING in California High Schools?

  • 48.5% of California high schools do not have an athletic trainer onsite at any athletic events.
  • 277,386 student athletes are at risk everyday due to lack of medical care or unqualified medical care at athletic events.
  • 13%  OR 1 in 6 people currently calling themselves athletic trainers and currently working in California high schools do not hold the proper certification.
  • 64% of sports injuries happen at practice when there is NO medical staff on-site.

Where is this HAPPENING?

  • Mostly in areas that are already underserved and underprivileged.
  • More than 60% of students at schools with unqualified or no medical staff are also enrolled in The National School Lunch Program (NSLP). 

Ensure That Your Athletic Trainer is Certified

Visit the Board of Certification verification website where you can search for an athletic trainer by name in order to ensure that the athletic trainer on your child's sideline is properly trained.

How can YOU HELP solve the problem?

  1. Write an email of support.
  2. Report a violation.
  3. Subscribe for updates.

Support AB 1592 in the assembly!

Please help protect young athletes, the athletic trainers who provide their care and employers of athletic trainers. Send an email today supporting AB 1592! Emails of support will automatically go to your Assemblyperson and appropriate committee chairs in the Assembly.

Support AB 1592

Have a Violation to Report?

  • Harm caused to a patient while under the care of an Athletic Trainer
  • A person employed/volunteering as an Athletic Trainer without a BOC certification
  • A licensed health care professional in California claiming to be an Athletic Trainer
  • An athletic training student providing patient care without direct supervision from a BOC certified Athletic Trainer or licensed health care professional

Complainants identity will be held strictly confidential.

REPORT A VIOLATION

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