Certified athletic trainer program under way

A new sports medicine concentration will benefit both the university and the community as students earn their certification by working as trainers at area athletic events.

Offered in the Department of Physical Education, Health Education and Recreation, the concentration serves as an internship for athletic trainer certification. Funding for the training is provided by Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian and Oktibbeha County Hospital in Starkville.

According to program director John Lamberth, the hospitals provide funds for graduate assistants who already are certified trainers, enabling them to earn a master's degree and work as athletic trainers at the same time. Undergraduates earn their certification by working with the graduate students.

"Students must earn 1,500 hours of experience as athletic trainers to be eligible to take the certification exam," explained Lamberth. "Most of the area high schools lack a certified athletic trainer, so the schools benefit from a student's donation of expertise while the student earns a degree and meets certification requirements."

Students in the program, which began in the fall, do more than just tape up players before sporting events. All must be certified in CPR and first-aid procedures. Many are emergency medical technicians. Plus, as part of the program, they present injury prevention programs at the various schools.

"There is a real need out there," said Bob Boling, interim department head. "This takes the burden off the coaches, who are usually responsible for such things at the high school level."

Lamberth said some of the schools benefiting from Mississippi State's program include Maben, Starkville, Moor, Alexander, and Ackerman. The program hopes to add the Columbus and Meridian areas next year. The university's intramural program already participates.

"We plan to limit the number of students in the concentration to between eight and 10 a year so we can keep the quality high," Lamberth said.

Three assistantships are currently available and training is expected to take between two and five years to complete.

For more information, contact Lamberth at 325-0906.