When a North Central College athlete goes down during a game, the stadium goes silent
and fans turn their attention to the injured player. Within seconds, an athletic trainer is usually
there to evaluate the situation and determine the next steps.
For the athletic trainers at North Central, those moments are only one part of the job.
Athletic trainers work behind the scenes before, during and after practices and competitions.
They are responsible for injury prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation. They also
work with coaches and other people in the athletic department.
The job begins long before the opening whistle. Athletic trainers can spend hours
preparing for practices and competitions, evaluating athletes and ensuring they have the
resources to handle injuries and other medical situations.
“My days are anything but average,” said Tracy Stephen, an athletic trainer at NCC. “They are always changing and often based on other schedules. Days for NCC athletic trainers are never the same and always need to stay flexible based on our student athletes’ needs and the
season we are in.”
Once competition begins, trainers must pay close attention to the athletes while
remaining prepared to respond when something happens to them. Trainers provide medical
information that helps coaches decide when an athlete is ready to play again.
The relationship between coaches and athletic trainers requires communication,
particularly when an athlete is dealing with an injury.
“They are very important. We view them as an extension of our coaching staff. As much as we need an offensive or defensive assistant, we need a trainer,” said Brendan Kearney, men’s lacrosse coach at NCC.
For athletic trainers, their work can involve long days and constantly changing
situations. A normal day can look different depending on the sport, practice schedule and
number of athletes who need recovery treatment.
“The most rewarding part of being an athletic trainer is watching athletes who may have
had an injury or surgery return to doing the activities they love. It makes the days much more
enjoyable,” Stephen said.
Athletic trainers may not appear on the scoreboard, but their work is present throughout
a North Central athlete’s season. From preparing before competition to treating injuries and
helping athletes with recovery rehabilitation, they remain an important part of the program.
