Chapter 1 Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team: Defining Roles

CHAPTER 1
Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and
the Sports Medicine Team: Defining
Roles
OVERVIEW
Sports medicine encompasses many areas of specialization. The sports
medicine team involves a number of individuals, each of whom must perform
specific duties relative to caring for an injured athlete. These individuals must work
together and know their roles in order to create an environment that is optimal for
the athlete. The coachs role is to take responsibility for preparing the athletes skill
level and to ensure that the athlete is conditioned properly. In addition, the coach
must make sure all protective equipment is properly worn and maintained.
The athletic trainer should be a highly educated and well-trained professional
who is responsible for the overall health and safety of the athlete. The athletic
trainer must be certified and should comply with state regulatory laws governing
his/her practice. As in any profession, the athletic trainer must follow the highest
standards of conduct.
The team physician may come from a variety of specializations. The role of the
team physician can vary depending on the willingness to commit time to a specific
sports program. Some of the responsibilities of the team physician may include preparticipation physicals, diagnosis of injuries and illness, education of the athletic
training staff, provision of coverage for scrimmages and practices, and counsel for
the athlete about any related health matter.
In addition to these three individuals there are a number of people that can
become part of the sports medicine team including dentists, nurses, physician
assistants, orthopedists, sports psychologists, and nutritionists.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying Chapter 1, the student will be able to:
Define the term Sports Medicine, according to the American Academy of Sports
Medicine.
Identify the individuals concerned with performance enhancement as well as
injury care and management.
Identify the various sports medicine organizations.
Identify the responsibilities of the coach in injury prevention, emergency care,
and injury management.
Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the certified athletic trainer.
Discuss how personal fitness trainers and strength and conditioning coaches
relate to the sports medicine field.
Discuss the role of an individual supervising a recreation program in injury
management.
Discuss the role of the athletic administrator in the athletic health care system.
Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the team physician.
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Chapter 1 Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team: Defining Roles

Identify members of the sports medicine team and describe their roles.
Clarify the roles of the certified athletic trainer and the personal trainer.

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Chapter 1 Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team: Defining Roles

KEY TERMINOLOGY

Activity Specialist Individuals that provide instruction and coach groups in

specialties such as swimming and tennis.
Athletic Administrator The individual that is responsible for hiring personnel
who will make up the sports medicine team (coaches, certified athletic trainers,
strength and conditioning specialists, nutritionists and sports psychologists)
Camp Counselor Individuals that lead and instruct campers in outdoor-oriented
forms of recreation such as swimming, hiking, horseback riding and camping.
Certified Athletic Trainer The individual who specializes in the field of athletic
training which is concerned with the athletes health and safety and has met the
requirements for certification established by the NATA
Fitness Professional Refers to personal fitness trainers, strength and
conditioning coaches, and other individuals interested in exercise and sport
sciences. (Physical education teachers, exercise physiologists, biomechanists,
sport psychologists and sports nutritionists).
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, regulates how a
persons health information can be shared with others.
National Athletic Trainers Association An organization formed in 1950 that
works to improve the quality and status of athletic training
National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification The governing
body of Certified Athletic Trainers
Personal Fitness Trainer The individual responsible for designing a
comprehensive exercise or fitness program for an individual client based on the
persons health history, capabilities and fitness objectives.
Recreation Leader Individuals primarily responsible for the daily operation of a
recreation program.
Recreation and Parks Directors Individuals that serve as advisors to local and
state recreation and park commissions and manage comprehensive recreation
programs in a variety of settings.
Recreational Specialist An individual that organizes, plans and oversees leisure
activities and athletic programs in local recreation, camp and park areas,
playgrounds, health clubs, and fitness centers, in the workplace and theme
parks, and other tourist attractions.
Recreation Supervisors Individuals that serve as a liaison between the director
of the park or recreation center and the recreation leaders. They plan, organize
and manage recreational activities to meet the needs of a variety of populations
and oversee the recreation leaders.
Recreational Therapists Considered a health care provider, these individuals
work in acute health care settings, such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers or
in long-term and residential care facilities.
Sports medicine Defined as multi-disciplinary and including the physiological,
biomechanical, psychological, and pathological phenomena associated with
exercise and sports
Team physician The physician who is ultimately responsible for supervising and
directing the total health care of the athlete

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Chapter 1 Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team: Defining Roles

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is sports medicine?
2. What are the responsibilities of each member of the sports medicine team? Who
has the final word on the health and well-being of the athlete? What are the roles
of other potential members of the sports medicine team?
3. If a coach does not have the services of a certified athletic trainer how can the
coach balance concern for the student-athlete's health and responsibility to the
entire team?
4. How should coaches, school officials, and athletic trainers make medical
decisions regarding those athletes with potential for college scholarship or
professional careers?
5. What are the responsibilities of a certified athletic trainer?
6. What are the responsibilities of a personal trainer, strength and conditioning
coach and recreational specialist?

CLASS ACTIVITIES
1. Invite a certified athletic trainer, a certified strength and conditioning coach, a
personal trainer, and a coach to class. Have them discuss their roles,
qualifications and experiences.
2. Have the students bring in and discuss information about the various sports
medicine organizations and what role they play in the field.
3. Have a physician, a physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner present
information about pre-participation examinations and screenings to the class.
4. Have students contact local athletic organizations to find out what types of injury
rates they have sustained, and who is responsible for injury care in those
organizations.
5. Choose an article from one of the journals that the various professional
organizations distribute and prepare a journal abstract or critical review.
6. The critical thinking activities in this chapter are excellent tools for discussion.

WORKSHEET ANSWERS
Matching
1.
2.
3.
4.

c
e
l
a

5.
6.
7.
8.

k
h
d
g

9. j
10. b
11. f
12. i

Short Answer
13.A fitness professional refers to personal fitness trainers, strength and
conditioning coaches, and other individuals interested in exercise and sport
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manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

Chapter 1 Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team: Defining Roles

science physical education teachers, exercise physiologists, biomechanists,

sport psychologists, and sports nutritionists.
14.A personal fitness trainer is primarily concerned with developing fitness and
wellness programs and improving the levels of physical conditioning in a healthy
population. The certified athletic trainer is a highly educated allied health care
professional responsible for the prevention, evaluation, rehabilitation and
management of injuries related to physical activity.
15.American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), The National Academy of Sports
Medicine (NASM), The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA),
and the American Council on Exercise (ACE).
Listing
16-18. See the Athletic Injury Management Checklist found on page 13.
19-22. See the support personnel found on pages 11-13.
23. Recreation Supervisor: Serve as liaisons between the director of the park or
recreation center and the recreation leaders. They plan, organize and manage
recreational activities to meet the needs of a variety of populations.
24. Recreation Leader: Responsible for the daily operation of a recreation program,
they organize and direct participants; schedule use of facilities, lead and give
instruction in dance, drama, crafts, games and sports, maintain equipment, and
ensure appropriate use of recreation facilities.
25. Activity Specialist: Provide instruction and coach groups in specialties such as
swimming and tennis.
26. Camp Counselor: Lead and instruct campers in outdoor-oriented forms of
recreation, such as swimming, hiking, horseback riding and camping.
27. Recreational Therapist: Considered a health care provider. Work in acute health
care settings, such as hospitals or rehabilitation centers or in long-term care and
residential care facilities. Treat and rehabilitate individuals with specific health
conditions, usually in conjunction or collaboration with MDs, nurses, physical
and occupational therapists, social workers and psychologists.
Essay
28-33. Team Physician: Supervisor and advisor to the ATC and coach. The physician
is in charge of compiling medical histories, diagnosing injuries, deciding on
disqualifications, and attending practices and games.
Certified Athletic Trainer: Responsible for the prevention of athletic injuries. Also
responsible for the recognition, evaluation and assessment of injured athletes,
the immediate care necessary, treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning of
injuries, organization and administration, professional development and
responsibility.
Coach: In charge of prevention of injuries through training programs, ensuring
that equipment is in working order and properly fitted, applying proper first aid if
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2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
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Chapter 1 Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team: Defining Roles

ATC or MD is not present, teaching proper skills, and monitoring field and
environmental conditions.

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2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

Chapter 1 Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team: Defining Roles

NAME______________________________
SECTION__________

CHAPTER 1 WORKSHEET
Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team:
Defining Roles
MATCHING: Match each item with the appropriate response.
______1. Orthopedist
______2. Team physician
______3. Nutritionist
______4. Personal Trainer
______5. Dentist
______6. Athletic Trainer
______7. Coach
______8. Sport psychologist
______9. Podiatrist
______10. Recreation
Specialist
______11. Athletic
Administrator
______12.
Strength/Conditioning
Coach

a. Responsible for designing exercise or fitness

programs for individual clients
b. Organizes, plans and oversees leisure activities
and athletic programs.
c. Physician responsible for treating
musculoskeletal injuries
d. Responsible for teaching proper techniques and
conditioning athletes
e. Responsible for injury diagnosis and is the
supervision/advisor to the certified athletic
trainer and coach
f. Responsible for hiring personnel who will make
up the sports medicine team.
g. Individual that can assist athletes with coping
strategies
h. Responsible for injury evaluation and
immediate care of athletic injuries
i. Conducts both individual and team training
sessions.
j. Physician specializing in foot care
k. Individual involved in the fitting of custom
mouth guards
l. Responsible for planning eating programs for
teams and individual athletes

SHORT ANSWER: Answer the following with a brief response.

13.Who is a Fitness Professional?
14.What is the difference between a personal trainer and a certified athletic trainer?
15. What organizations offer certification for personal fitness trainers?
LISTING: List three things the sports medicine team can do to minimize athletic
injuries.

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Chapter 1 Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team: Defining Roles

16.
17.
18.
List four individuals that may be an addition to the sports medicine team and
describe their role/responsibility.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Define the following terms:
23. Recreation Supervisor:
24. Recreation Leader:
25. Activity Specialist:
26. Camp Counselor:
27. Recreational Therapist:
ESSAY
28-33.Outline the roles and responsibilities of the team physician, the certified
athletic trainer, and
the coach.

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2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.