Concerns Raised Over Lack of Athletic Trainers in Ohio Schools

According to WKYC, in Ohio, concerns are growing over the increasing number of sports injuries and the health and safety of young athletes, especially as schools resume sessions. 

Despite these concerns, Athletic Trainers are not yet mandatory in Ohio schools.

Elyria High School AT, Laura Breese, stressed the importance:

"Seeing the expectation that is put on the athletes, every sport now is year-round. There's really no breaks for any of them so there's an increase in chronic injuries and overuse injuries."

For Athletic Trainers to become mandatory, it would need to become Ohio law.

The Ohio High School Sports Athletics Association handbook for 2023-24 advises that while licensed ATs are strongly recommended at sports events, they aren't compulsory. The association doesn't have the power to enforce schools to hire staff, as it would lead to increased costs.

Currently, there's no bill aimed at changing this policy.

According to ATLAS (Athletic Training Location and Services), out of the 840 schools under the OHSAA, only 390 have a full-time Athletic Trainer, 290 have a part-time trainer, and 160 schools lack any athletic training services.

Jodie Johnson, Elyria High School Principal, emphasized the value of Athletic Trainers, mentioning that coaches might have basic knowledge, but not to the extent of professional ATs.

The school's trainers, Ann Hamker and Breese, who are contracted from Jaworski Physical Therapy, highlight the benefits students receive in terms of quality healthcare and education. 

"We've done this in and out, we've done our emergency action plan and this is what we were raised to do. we do it every day."

A controversial phrase, depending on who you talk to, pops up over these concerns as an excuse — that's there's "a shortage of Athletic Trainers".  Some would argue it is not a shortage, but a lack of willingness to pay what ATs are worth.

However, this still leads to the situation that many schools can't afford them full-time, and the demand remains high.

The Ohio Athletic Trainer's Association (OATA) is urging lawmakers to support the future of school athletics in Ohio.

They aim to work with the OHSAA and the State Department of Education to introduce a bill that ensures and funds athletic trainers in every state school.

Dayton High Schools Lack ATs This Fall Season
In other news,  Dayton Public Schools currently have no contract with a local health system for the provision of Athletic Trainers during practices or games.

This situation contrasts with other major suburban districts in the region that maintain contracts with various hospital networks for their sports programs. The district's previous contract with Kettering Health has ended. David Lawrence, the interim superintendent, stated that he is in discussions with potential new providers for ATs, but there is no fixed timeline for finalizing a new contract.

Lawrence attributed the current lack of a contract partly to its recent expiration and — once again with the controversial phrase — a "nationwide shortage of athletic trainers".

In the absence of Athletic Trainers this season, Dayton schools have taken extra precautions. These include providing additional first-aid training to coaches, having emergency equipment and a doctor on site during practices and games, offering hydration facilities, and supplying "Guardian Caps" for football helmets to reduce impact.

Other school districts in the region, like Kettering Schools, Huber Heights, Centerville, Trotwood-Madison, and Xenia Schools, have contracts with either Kettering Health or Premier Health to provide athletic trainers for specific events, practices, and games.