Head Athletic Trainer Responsibilities

The head athletic trainer responsibilities include checking, scrutinizing and taking care of the injuries of the athletes. S/he works with the junior trainers as well and helps the athletes feel comfortable about themselves and the injuries they have received. A head athletic trainer looks after the overall training, maintenance and nutrition of the athletes. S/he administrates some low-level trainers under her/him and directs the athletes towards taking care of their health and other sports requirements. A head athletic trainer has many responsibilities and duties that s/he executes in order to make the athletes fit and win a medal.

A head athletic trainer is generally responsible for catering to the requirements of the athletes and taking care of various aspects of their life to make them victorious in the field of sports and competitions. S/he ensures that all the demands and needs of the athletes are met in order to emerge as winners of the competitions. Sometimes, it is the junior trainers who report to her/him about their health and running status so that s/he can decide whether they are suitable to particiapte in the athletic competitions.

Although a head athletic trainer generally looks after the vital needs of her/his athletes, s/he has some key responsibilities that s/he has to execute, irrespective of her/his location or the athletes getting trained under her/him. These are as follows:

Encouraging the athletes to perform well and guiding them towards the same.
Attending to their injuries, wounds and sprains and healing them.
Making the athletes do physical and mental exercises that would provide them with muscles, strength, mind power and stamina.
Giving tips to them on various ways and means of avoiding or preventing wounds and injuries in their future days.
Recommending specialized diets for them in consultation with their dieticians and physicians in order to prepare them for future competitions and make them strong, active and muscular.
Making sure that the dietary needs of the athletes are achieved and advising them on various methods and techniques which when applied can make them excel and win.
Instructing them on how to perform certain yoga asanas and other movement exercises in order to make them perform better than in their previous attempts
Building their strength and will power and making them feel at ease and comfort with themselves on the days of their performances.
Motivating them to perform bigger and better every single time.
Organizing gym equipment for them and ensuring that they practise regularly and correctly.
Keeping ice packs on their swollen body parts, applying medicines from the first aid boxes on their affected areas and providing them with relief as early as possible.
Raising their spirits when they lose or are unable to perform well
Arranging sports drinks and snacks for them that provide the same with body energy and mind stability.
Providing them with safety materials and teaching them their applications so that the same can protect themselves while indulging in those athletic sports activities.
Evaluating their medical conditions and reports and deciding whether they will be able to participate in the future sports tournaments.
Making sure that they are fit enough to carry out their activities if they are participating in the sports events.
Instructing them on the proper utilzation of gym equipment and instruments.
Holding various investigations and selecting those exercises for them that would be both suitable and useful.
Rubbing down their body parts and making their muscles comfortable and strong and making them relax.
Observing their strengths and weaknesses and teaching them how to overcome the latter.
Instructing them on warming up before an event by teaching them stretching exercises.
Advising them on tricks and plans that can better their performance.
Studying and examining the pitch conditions where they will be running or performing.
Advising them on various pros and cons of the pitch, based on its analysis.
Instructing them to follow those ideas, thoughts and methodical techniques that would help the same win the competitions.
Updating oneself with the latest sports technologies, advancements and medicines that can help the athletes bag medals.
Taking care of severely injured athletes and transporting them to the nearest hospital.
Utilizing presence of mind and adopting and applying suitable measures to save them from fatal situations.
Supervising and participating in the sports unit assistance activities that make sure that the athletes are able to meet their requirements.
Performing all other functions of a head athletic trainer that require her/his supervision, administration and direction.

Qualifications and Skills Required

A head athletic trainer should have a graduate degree in physical training or any other related or similar field. S/he also needs to have about 5-7 years of experience as a junior athletic trainer. S/he should possess a national athletic trainers association ( NATA ) certificate. S/he requires to have done some fundamental health and sports courses that ensure that s/he is fit to carry out all her/his roles and jobs of a head athletic trainer. S/he needs to have executed her/his past training and sports operations under a NATA trainer for around two years. Having assisted her/his coaches and trainers while s/he was at high school would give her/him enough confidence and maturity to handle the jobs and responsibilities of a head athletic trainer.

Working Conditions

This professional works very hard alongside the athletes inside rooms or even outdoors in all kinds of seasons and sometimes has irregular working hours and timings. S/he practices with the athletes and is also seen doing many kinds of movement and stretching exercises and activities. S/he has to attend to their injuries anytime as and when required. S/he is also seen instructing her/his athletes on the utilization of gymnasium equipment.

Salary

A head athletic trainer normally earns around USD 34, 000 every year on median grounds. S/he may earn even more or less than this, depending on her/his skills, expertise, years of experience and success. The more successful and famous a head athletic trainer is, the more salary s/he earns and the more lucrative jobs s/he is offered.

Thus, the head athletic trainer responsibilities include instructing her/his athletes on ways and means to make them perform better and taking care of their health and diet in order to ensure the same.