THE NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION AND NORTH AMERICAN BOOSTER CLUB ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

Underscoring commitment to secondary school sport injury prevention
and treatment, the two organizations have developed a
Sports Safety Checklist for parents and coaches

ST. LOUIS, MO. – To underscore their commitment to secondary school sports injury prevention and treatment, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the North American Booster Club Association (NABCA) today announced a partnership at NATA’s annual meeting in St. Louis. As a first step in this partnership, NATA member Kira Au, MS, ATC, head athletic trainer at Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, Calif., will become the first athletic trainer appointed to the NABCA national advisory board. The associations also introduced a sports safety checklist as a guide for parents, coaches, administrators, athletic trainers and other health care professionals, to ensure safe and healthy play.

“We are excited to partner with NABCA to educate parents and coaches on how to help high school athletes avoid common sports-related injuries,” said NATA President Chuck Kimmel, ATC. “After all, the safety of young athletes is a top priority for certified athletic trainers who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries.”

“Teaming up with NATA is a natural fit for our organization, and we’re pleased to welcome Kira Au to our national advisory board,” said Steve Beden, President and CEO of NABCA. “We look forward to working with NATA on ongoing projects to reduce the number of injuries among children playing sports in the U.S.”

Sports Safety Checklist

Following are highlights of the NATA and NABCA sports safety guidelines. An electronic version of the entire checklist is available at www.nata.org and www.boosterclubs.org

1. Coaches should develop a written emergency action plan to prepare for possible sport-related injuries.
2. If there is no certified athletic trainer on staff, coaches, parents and officials should be trained in first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
3. Make sure that athletes have their own water bottles and stay well hydrated.
4. Develop educational programs for parents and athletes regarding conditioning, strength training, hydration, nutrition, injury prevention and care, rules and fundamentals of the sport.
5. Plan a mock emergency to practice execution of the emergency action plan.
6. Determine what to include in a first aid kit for specific sports.
7. On a regular basis, perform a safety check of the facility.
8. Develop a sports/parent “code of conduct” and always show good sportsmanship.
9. Understand the fundamentals and rules of the sport, and be supportive of your child and the coach.
10. Coaches should always arrange a pre-season meeting for parents outlining the school’s or league’s philosophies and safety procedures.

For more information, visit the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (www.nata.org)
and North American Booster Club Association (www.boosterclubs.org).

North American Booster Club Association (NABCA)
The North American Booster Club Association (NABCA) is the governing body and first of its kind national booster club association dedicated to providing booster clubs and their extracurricular organizations throughout North America with the highest level of guidance, education, training and support. NABCA supports the more than 1.3 million school, non-school, sports, music and arts based booster clubs who work to insure the continuation of extracurricular programs that provide life skills, build strong leaders and keep our kids in school, out of gangs and off drugs. Visit www.boosterclubs.org.

National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport
Athletic trainers are unique health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 30,000 members of the athletic training profession. NATA advocates for equal access to athletic trainers for patients and clients of all ages and supports H.R. 1846. Only 42 percent of high schools have access to athletic trainers. NATA members adhere to a code of ethics. Visit www.nata.org.

# # #