Impact of UCLA’s Athletic Trainers on Player Health and Performance

At UCLA, the spotlight often shines on the elite players and their coaches. However, it is the Athletic Trainers who are being credited by the teams for their success. They play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being and performance of the athletes, making them an invaluable part of the sports program.

These dedicated professionals are the cornerstone of UCLA’s sports success, a fact not lost on the Bruins. UCLA baseball senior infielder Daylen Reyes, highlighted the pivotal role ATs play in maintaining athletes’ health and performance:

“They’re very important to us, and they kind of just keep our bodies right, which is obviously very crucial to us in our season.”

UCLA’s Sports Medicine Internship Program is a testament to the university’s commitment to top-notch athletic care. Sophomores and above are invited to join a rigorously-selected team of student Athletic Trainers, entrusted with the well-being of UCLA’s athletes.

These student trainers, under the guidance of professionals like Matthew Brandt of UCLA men’s soccer, contribute 15 to 25 hours weekly, depending on their year and sport.

Brandt emphasizes the integral role trainers play:

“We’re the day-to-day health care managers for the athlete. We are the day-to-day people to keep the athletes on the field.”

Abbey Redding, a fourth-year biology student working with UCLA baseball, added:

“What we do in the training room is a lot of hands-on muscle groups, trying to get them looser, feeling better, adding more range of motion.”

Redding’s role extends beyond physical therapy to ensuring athletes are fit for their future aspirations.

Reyes acknowledges the deep trust between athletes and trainers, likening them to fellow teammates. This bond is vital for open communication about injuries and well-being.

The internship program also serves as a beacon for women in sports medicine. Redding, among few women in the Jackie Robinson Stadium dugout, aspires to break barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field.

“My goal, at least right now, is I really want to work in the NHL.”

She draws inspiration from the handful of women who have made strides in the NHL’s sports administration.

UCLA's Athletic Trainers are more than just medical professionals; they are integral members of the team, crucial to the Bruins' success. Their work, often behind the scenes, is indispensable in nurturing the health, performance, and aspirations of UCLA's athletes.

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