Addressing the need for athletic trainers

A Rose high football player died of head injures after a game a little more than a week ago but Jaquan Waller was the second high school player to die after a game in our state over the past month.

Now, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association says something needs to be done to improve the safety of high school athletic programs.

It’s just a game, but the game of football has claimed the lives of two North Carolina high school students in one month.

That’s why people like Charlie Adams say something needs to be done to make it safer to play.

“There’s nothing more tragic that losing a student athlete, not only for the family but for the child, the school, the squad and we want to do everything we can to minimize that,“ said Adams.

Adams is the executive director of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and says our state needs certified athletic trainers on the sidelines of every high school.

Adams said, “I don’t think there’s any question we need a [certified athletic trainer] at every school.“

But what is needed is not always easy to come by.

Heather Mayo said, “The main issue when it comes to a licensed athletic trainer is that we typically do not have a full time position to offer that individual.“

Heather Mayo with Pitt County schools said what they have to try and do is fill a full time teaching position.

“We have to use their background, what they did earn credits for in college and try and match that up with something in the district,“ said Mayo. For instance, a physical education teacher or something in sports medicine.

Mayo says the school board looks to the NCHAA for guidance and support and says they will be looking to other districts to see how they are able to fill the position that is becoming so critical to the game.