Athletic Trainer’s Role and Function
Juniata’s Athletic Trainers are certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and are highly educated and well-trained professionals.  Their major functions include prevention, recognition and evaluation of injuries; the management, treatment, rehabilitation, organization, administration, education and counseling of our athletes.  Juniata maintains a contract with University Orthopedics for a Team Physician.
Athletic Trainer’s Duties:
·Work cooperatively with coaches and strength coaches in setting up and carrying out conditioning programs.
·Reduce conditions that adversely affect the health or the performance of the athlete.
·Manage (first aid, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation) athletic injuries or medical problems that may affect the athletes.
·Apply protective or injury-preventive devices (tape, bandages, and braces).
·Counsel athletes in various health-related areas such as: nutrition, relaxation, stress management, and personal health habits.
·Work in cooperation with the College insurance administrator, health care professionals, students’ insurance providers and other relevant offices to facilitate processing of insurance claims. 
·Work cooperatively with and under the direction of Juniata Team Physicians regarding:
 

-Rehabilitation and treatment procedures
-Protective devices and equipment
-Referrals to the physicians, clinic services or hospital
-Reconditioning procedures
Serves as a member of the Catastrophic Injury Management Group for Athletics (Head Athletic Trainer)
 
 
 
Direct daily training room operations including:
·Exercise rehabilitation and therapy programs
·Record keeping
·Requisitioning and storage of supplies
·Inventory and budget allocation
·Provide training coverage for all home athletic events
·Supervise student trainers.
·Follow the expressed orders of a physician at all times.
·When the team physician is not available, trainers must only perform those duties, which he/she is qualified to perform.
 
The Training Room
The training room is a place for the prevention and care of athletic injuries.
The athletic trainer is responsible for cleanliness and sanitation in the training room.
The athletic trainer will establish rules, procedures and policies which must be followed by all student athletes.
Requirements for Competition
Prior to participating in practices or competition, each student athlete must have a current medical examination on file with the athletic trainer.  To be considered current, the medical examination must have been performed during the summer immediately preceding the current school year or during the semester prior to competition.  (For fall sports – the exam must have been completed during the summer preseason; for winter and spring sports – the exam must have been completed during the fall semester).
The Juniata athletic training staff and team physicians will complete annual physical and health screening.  All medical releases, completed exam forms and medical history information will be maintained by the athletic trainer.
Prior to participation in any practice or competition, each student athlete must provide proof of medical insurance either through a family policy or an individual policy purchased through Juniata College.
Student athletes will not be permitted to check out equipment, participate in practices or compete until all appropriated medical documentation has been submitted to the athletic trainer.
Care, Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries
Coaches must inform all student athletes during the first week of practice that they should go directly to the athletic trainer for the care of all athletic and non-athletic-related injuries and illness.  Failure to do so can jeopardize insurance coverage.
Student athletes must inform their coaches when they are seeing the trainer for any injuries.
A student athlete may not return to practice or competition following an injury until he/she has been released to do so by the team physician and the athletic trainer.
Coaches must inform the athletic trainer of the team's practice schedule and any changes.
The Team Physicians have absolute authority in determining whether a student athlete is able to participate in practice or competition. The Team Physician shall have absolute discretion in determining whether to release an athlete to practice or competition following an injury. 
A certified athletic trainer and/or student trainer will be available at all home sporting events.  This includes having a trainer not physically present but available within an acceptable, appropriate period of time if needed for sports with lesser physical contact between participants.
Medical records are legal documents.  These records must be kept up to date and remain on file for the duration of the student athlete’s participation at Juniata.  The athletic trainer must keep a progress record on any injured athlete seen in the training room.
Injured athletes from visiting colleges and universities will be treated at J C Blair Hospital or by Juniata College/University Orthopedics professionals.
 
Athlete Responsibilities
·Student athletes must report all injuries to the athletic trainer or coach immediately.
·The athlete must be evaluated and released by the team physician or athletic trainer prior to returning to practice or competition following an injury.
·The team physician will schedule clinics that must be attended by student athletes.  Failure to attend a scheduled clinic may delay a student athlete's participation in practice or competition.
·Student-athletes may get a second opinion by a medical doctor other than the team physician on the student's ability to return to competition following an injury.  However, the team physician will still have the final determination on whether to release the student athlete to return to practice or competition.  .
·When injured, student athletes must report to the trainer for daily treatment/rehabilitation until released by the team physician.
·The team physician may require continued treatment/rehabilitation even after the student athlete returns to practice or competition.
·Student athletes must report the use of all nutritional or dietary supplements, vitamins, medicine (including over-the-counter cold remedies), or ergogenic aids to the head athletic trainer to determine any NCAA ramifications surrounding their use.
 
Insurance
All students involved in an intercollegiate sports program must provide proof of medical coverage prior to participation in any practice or competition.  This form requires a parent/guardian signature.
Juniata Student Health Insurance may act as primary coverage, although injuries due to participation in athletics under this plan may not be covered in many circumstances.  Student-athletes should be aware that they may have an inordinate amount of financial exposure if they use the student health insurance plan.
If a student is hurt during a game or practice, a "Claimant's Proof of Loss Form" must completed by the athletic trainer.  The original of this document will be sent to the Business office.  Care should be taken to note that an injury is related to the student's participation in intercollegiate sports.  The athletic trainer will maintain a copy in departmental files.
Juniata Athletics insurance will cover a maximum of $60,000 per injury or occurrence.
Claim Procedure:
1.The student should seek treatment as soon as possible after thoroughly investigating policies and procedures defined by their primary insurance coverage.
2.The student should immediately submit the cost of this treatment to their primary insurance provider.
3.What is not covered under their plan will be submitted to Juniata's intercollegiate sports coverage provider.  This will act as secondary insurance coverage, although there will be a deductible of $100.00 and there is no guarantee that any remaining costs will be covered.  The student-athlete can contact the athletic trainer to fill out the proper claim form. 
4.The student-athlete should also schedule an appointment with the Health Center at which time they should bring with them all bills that have not been paid by their provider so that office can include them with the claim form.  The athlete should also bring a copy of the "Explanation of Benefits" document from their primary insurance carrier.
5.Though college personnel will assist and attempt to expedite the claims process, it is the responsibility of the student-athlete to follow proper procedures until claims are paid or denied by all applicable insurance carriers.
 
Enhancers, Supplements and Ergogenic Aids – Position Statement and Policy
Juniata subscribes to NCAA regulations regarding banned substances including but not limited to, recreational drugs, anabolic steroids, ephedrine, caffeine and tobacco, and will respond appropriately when student-athletes or coaches are in violation of NCAA rules or the Juniata College Code of Conduct.
With regard to performance enhancers that are allowed under NCAA regulations (i.e. creatine), Juniata does not supply or endorse use of any such products.  The Athletics Department requires that student athletes consult the Juniata College Strength and Conditioning Professional, the Juniata College Head Athletic Trainer or team physician for information about these products and any current, applicable research before using any performance enhancing nutritional supplements.  Juniata has made an uncommon commitment to the conditioning, health and well-being of our student-athletes.  It is the Athletics Department’s position that the expertise, experience and facilities available to Juniata athletes can most prudently, safely and effectively maximize strength, weight and performance gains without the inclusion of artificial ergogenic aids.
Athletes who are taking any supplements, vitamins, medicine, or ergogenic aids must consult the head athletic trainer to determine any NCAA or overall health ramifications that may surround their use.
 
Counseling
The Juniata Counseling Center has become a great asset to student-athletes.  Athletes may face challenges such as: anxiety; stress; depression; eating disorders; time management; alcohol/drug addiction; obsessive exercising; sexual, verbal or physical abuse; relationship problems with family, roommate(s), or friends.  The counseling office is a resource that can help.  The Counseling Center can be contacted at 641-3353.  All information is CONFIDENTIAL.
At times, a challenge may arise that is threatening to the total well being of a student-athlete.  If a situation occurs where athletics personnel believe an athlete may be at risk when participating in a Juniata intercollegiate sport, a decision will be made to determine the extent of continued involvement with Juniata athletics.
 
Concussion Management Policy
Per NCAA rule 3.2.4.16 Juniata College maintains an active concussion management plan for its student athletes.  Juniata College has in place:

• An annual process that ensures student-athletes are educated about the signs and symptoms of concussions.  Information from the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook is posted in the training room and on the Juniata College Website.
• A process that ensures a student-athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion is removed immediately from athletics activities and evaluated by a medical staff member (e.g., sport medicine staff or team physician) with experience in the evaluation and management of concussions.
• Policy: A student athlete diagnosed with a concussion is precluded from returning to athletic activity (practice, competition and conditioning sessions) for at least the remainder of that same calendar day.
• Policy: Medical clearance is required for a student-athlete diagnosed with a concussion to return to athletics activity as determined by a physician (e.g. team physician) or the physician’s designee.