Program recognizes high schools that help to keep young athletes safe
Allentown, Pa. (January 30, 2018) – The Allentown School District is pleased to announce that William Allen High School (WAHS) has been selected as a recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes. It also reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment.
Dr. John Hauth, President of the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association and Senior Director of Sports Medicine for St. Luke’s, will present the award at halftime of Tuesday’s home game versus Easton. The game beings at 7:00 pm and the award will be presented during halftime to those who dedicate their time and effort to ensure the safety and well-being of student athletes.
“As athletic trainers, we are making sure our student-athletes are participating not only to the best of their abilities but in the safest and most optimal environment we can provide for them,” said Amy Cotter, St. Luke’s Certified Athletic Trainer for William Allen High School. “We consider their physical, mental, and cognitive health our priority and do what we can within our scope of practice to ensure they are treated with the utmost care, compassion, and best evidence-based practices. Day in and day out we look to continually improve our program, advance our professional knowledge, and provide exceptional care to the student-athletes at William Allen,” said Cotter, who has been with WAHS for 11 years.
With support from the Allentown School District, William Allen HS, and St Luke’s University Health Network Sports Medicine, the school has achieved its goal of becoming a Safe Sports School. WAHS is the 8th school in the Lehigh Valley to receive this award and only one of 36 in Pennsylvania. Over 700 schools nationwide are designated as Safe Sports Schools.
“WAHS of school is honored to receive this 1st Team recognition from NATA, and we remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship and good health,” said Scott Cooperman, Athletic Director at WAHS. “Our goal is to lead our athletics program to the highest safety standards for our players.”
“We remain committed to the health and welfare of young athletes in competitive sports,” says NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC. “This award recognizes the contributions and commitment of schools across the country that are implementing safe sports policies and best practices to ensure athletes can do what they love best, and have the appropriate care in place to prevent, manage and treat injuries should they occur.”
In order to achieve Safe Sport School status, as Allen did, athletic programs must do the following:
- Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
- Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations
- Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities
- Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment
- Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes
- Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions
- Provide or facilitate injury intervention
- Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
- Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education
- Be sure athletes and parents are educated of the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities
- For more information please visit: www.athletictrainers.org
About NATA: National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents and supports 44,000 members of the athletic training profession. Official website: www.nata.org.
Information Provided By:
Office of Communications
Allentown School District
www.allentownsd.org/
