What does a high school assistant athletic trainer do?

I'm looking into the responsibilities of a high school assistant athletic trainer. Can someone break down the daily tasks or any certifications needed for this role? I'm considering it as a potential career path.

An Assistant Athletic Trainer at a high school typically helps the Head Athletic Trainer with the variety of tasks that fall under their purview. These tasks often include areas like injury prevention, assessment, and management.

In terms of the daily duties, they include:

- Managing injuries: Providing immediate care to athletes who've been injured, treating them in the short-term, and outlining a rehabilitation program if necessary.

- Developing and supervising rehabilitation: Making sure athletes adhere to the rehabilitation program after injury. This involves conducting exercises and using techniques like therapeutic modalities.

- Physical preparation: Helping athletes warming up and cooling down to minimize the chances of injury, and taping or bandaging to give support to vulnerable areas.

- Administrative tasks: Keeping injury records, sports physicals, insurance paperwork, and other related medical documents.

The minimum required certification for an assistant athletic trainer is a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training. However, the standards for certification often depend on the state and the particular high school district you intend to work in. Certification from the Board of Certification (BOC) is generally required which demonstrates candidates have met the educational requirements and passed an examination.

To maintain certification, athletic trainers must complete ongoing continuing education every three years. Additionally, First Aid and CPR certifications are usually standard requirements.

It's important to note that a career in athletic training can be a stepping stone towards more advanced roles in healthcare such as a physical therapist or sports medicine doctor. Also, having hands-on experience working with athletes can be extremely beneficial for people considering this particular career path.