Managing Conflict: Supporting Athletic Trainers in Youth Sports

When a young athlete suffers an injury, determining when they’re ready to return to their sport should be a collaborative decision involving medical professionals, coaches, the athlete, and their family.

High school and middle school athletes often first consult with an Athletic Trainer, who plays a crucial role in assessing and guiding the return-to-play process.

However, Athletic Trainers frequently face pressure from coaches and others to expedite this process, sometimes at the expense of the athlete’s health.

Alicia Lacy, an assistant professor of Athletic Training at the University of Maine, understands these pressures firsthand. Her research focuses on organizational-professional conflict in secondary school athletic training settings.

Lacy recalls an incident where a coach demanded a star quarterback return to play despite an injury, highlighting the intense pressure ATs can face.

"It was this pivotal moment in my career, where I thought, 'Wow, this shouldn't be happening."

Since joining UMaine in 2021, Lacy has published several journal articles based on her research, including a study in the Journal of Athletic Training that examined how Athletic Trainers manage conflicts related to return-to-sport decisions.

Effective communication, professional relationships, stakeholder education, and professional experience emerged as critical strategies.

"The field is moving in a really positive direction, but there are still people out there who don't know the role of an Athletic Trainer." 

She emphasized the importance of educating coaches and stakeholders about the health care professional role Athletic Trainers play.

"Part of it is just educating stakeholders about the fact that Athletic Trainers are health care professionals."

Lacy’s research addresses a gap in the literature, focusing on the unique challenges faced by Athletic Trainers in K-12 settings, who often work alone and report to athletic directors and coaches. This dynamic can create inherent tensions due to competing interests.

In states like Maine, where only 37% of high schools have a full-time Athletic Trainer, the lack of medical professionals in rural areas can delay treatment for serious injuries.

"If a student athlete suffers a serious injury or medical event in a rural area, and there's no Athletic Trainer on site, the response time is going to be slower and the ability to get them the treatment they need is going to be delayed."

Despite the challenges, Lacy hopes her research will support Athletic Trainers in navigating workplace conflicts, ultimately helping to fill these vital roles in schools and communities.

"Helping Athletic Trainers feel supported is an important step in filling these critical positions in our communities and schools."

Read more on her research here!