The sports trainer in action

Chapter One The sports trainer in action



Learning outcomes




1. Explain the operations expected of a sports trainer and the contexts in which they should be applied


2. Describe the accepted roles and responsibilities of a sports trainer


3. Demonstrate accepted safety and privacy practices


4. Detail ways of developing positive relationships with health care professionals


5. Demonstrate effective communication with athletes, coaches, parents and health care professionals


6. Detail professional development programs and options


7. Describe the components and processes necessary to establish a fair and equitable sporting environment


8. Demonstrate a range of emergency hand signals


9. Describe ethical and legal issues related to the activities of a sports trainer


10. Demonstrate effective communication skills between injured athletes and support staff


11. Demonstrate safe handling, maintenance and storage protocols of sports medicine equipment


12. Describe methods of accurately recording the details of an injured athlete




Assessment of outcomes



Underpinning knowledge


Oral or written questions may be asked relating to the conduct and behaviour of sports trainers with respect to their accepted roles and responsibilities. You may also be asked to complete an online learning task related to equality in sport and submit copies of completed online tasks.



Practical demonstration


You may be asked to show how you would document the treatment of your athletes or manage their personal medical information. You may also be required to identify specific items of sports medicine equipment and describe their purpose.



Scenario


You may be asked to locate sports medicine equipment and use it in simulated emergency situations. You may also be asked to document and record athlete assessments and treatments.



Introduction


This chapter describes the role of the sports trainer as well as the relationships between the sports trainer and sporting organisations and Sports Medicine Australia (SMA). It is essential that all candidates have a clear understanding of the role, relationships and responsibilities of a sports trainer. The sports trainer must be able to:



image understand and operate within their scope of practice


image adhere to accepted safety and privacy practices


image contribute to a safe, fair and equitable sporting environment


image communicate effectively with athletes, coaches, parents and health care professionals


image work collaboratively with, and refer appropriately to, health care professionals


image appreciate ethical issues surrounding first aid and sports medicine


image handle, maintain and store sports medicine equipment


image identify continuing education and development options.



What is a sports trainer?


Sports trainers are members of the sports medicine team who are able to provide basic injury prevention and management techniques as well as assist in improving athletic performance. Sports trainers provide a crucial link between the athlete, coach and sports medicine health professionals. They are often the first to respond when an athlete requires assistance with an injury or medical condition; however, their role is more comprehensive than simply providing first aid only. The sports trainer’s role includes:



image implementing appropriate injury prevention protocols


image preparing players for competition


image providing the appropriate immediate management of injuries


image providing immediate crisis management of severe injuries


image informed referral of injuries to a more qualified health professional for further advice and management


image working in conjunction with health professionals, such as physiotherapists or doctors, to ensure a safe return to play for injured players


image educating players and coaching staff in relation to return to play principles.


Applying these skills improves the likelihood of a good outcome for anyone who has a sports-related injury or illness.


The role of the sports trainer varies depending on the type and level of the team. With high level sports teams, sports trainers usually work in conjunction with health professionals, such as doctors and physiotherapists. However, in community level sport, the sports trainer is likely to be the only person present with any medical training.


image

Figure 1.1 The sports trainer


Under the Sports Medicine Australia Safer Sport Program, sports trainers can be accredited as either a Level 1 or Level 2 Sports Trainer.


The requirements to achieve accreditation as an SMA Level 1 Sports Trainer include:



image having a current Apply First Aid Certificate, or equivalent


image having a current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate


image completion of the SMA Safer Sport Program Level 1 Sports Trainer course, or equivalent.


Accredited Level 2 Sports Trainers are expected to be able to provide appropriate care of athletes to a more advanced standard than Level 1 Sports Trainers. The requirements for SMA Level 2 accreditation include:



image fulfilment of the accreditation criteria for a Level 1 Sports Trainer


image completion of the SMA Safer Sport Program Level 2 Sports Trainer course, or equivalent.


Sports trainers can operate as volunteers or they may work for remuneration in return for their time and expertise. In either case, sports trainers should be aware of, and always operate in accordance with, the Sports Trainer Code of Ethics, which is discussed later in this chapter.


The sports trainer will be expected to provide support and advice to a range of people involved in sport, including amateur and professional athletes, their coaches, managers and other sports administrators. The sports trainer’s role may therefore include tasks related to:



image athlete health and wellbeing


image athlete performance


image athlete education and development


image legal documentation and responsibility


image budgeting and acquisition of medical equipment and consumables


image liaison with sporting officials and administration decision makers


image first aid and emergency care of athletes.



Sports trainers and the law


Although sports trainers are not registered or regulated health practitioners under Australian law, the role of the sports trainer is still subject to some legal restrictions. Therefore, sports trainers need to be familiar with their legal obligations.


There are some legal principles that all sports trainers should understand and be careful to comply with, including:



1. consent


a. informed consent

b. implied consent

2. duty of care


3. negligence


4. scope of practice


5. restricted practices.



Consent


The principle of consent recognises that all athletes have the right to accept or refuse treatment or assistance. There are two main types of consent sports trainers need to be aware of:



1. Informed consent – sometimes also known as actual consent or express consent. For informed consent, the athlete or the parent/guardian specifically gives the sports trainer permission to help or render assistance. To gain a proper informed consent, it is necessary to explain to the athlete the likely benefits of the suggested treatment or intervention, as well as the possible risks and the alternative options available to them.


2. Implied consent – consent not actually granted by the person but implied from their actions or silence. It is based on what a reasonable person would usually expect to be done in the circumstances. For example, in an emergency situation, an unconscious athlete’s consent to assistance is implied.



Duty of care


Duty of care describes the duty of all people to take reasonable care to act in a way that will not cause harm to a person under their care. It also includes the obligation to provide assistance, if possible, but does not oblige a person to provide assistance if doing so would at the same time put them at risk.


As part of their role to provide assistance and emergency care to athletes, a sports trainer usually has an implied duty of care to provide assistance as effectively as they can within the limitations of their scope of practice and without putting themselves at risk. As part of the their duty of care, once they have started to provide assistance the sports trainer should stay with the person requiring assistance until more qualified health care professionals arrive.



Negligence


Negligence as a legal concept usually refers to harm caused by carelessness or lack of skill rather than intentional harm. To establish whether an act was negligent, a court must first be satisfied that the defendant owed a duty of care to the complainant. If a duty of care was owed, then the court must decide:



image was harm foreseeable?


image what is the usual practice or standard of care?


image was it likely that harm would occur as a result of the action actually undertaken?



Scope of practice


Scope of practice refers to the role, responsibilities and range of tasks that are both legally and ethically appropriate for a sports trainer to undertake. The sports trainer’s scope of practice is determined by what they are legally allowed to do, their level of training and their ethical and contractual obligations. In other words, their scope of practice may vary according to the role they have been employed or contracted to undertake, but can never exceed those restricted under law. In addition, a sports trainer’s scope of practice is restricted to encompass only skills they have acquired as a result of their training, and is further restricted to only those activities allowable under both the Sports Trainer Code of Ethics and their contract of service.



Restricted practices


Restricted practices are medical procedures or techniques that are specifically restricted by law. These techniques can only be used by registered health professionals who have authority under the law to do so, such as doctors, physiotherapists, podiatrists and the other health professions registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Examples of restricted practices that are illegal for sports trainers to undertake include surgical and dental procedures, prescription and supply of scheduled medications and spinal manipulation or adjustments.


If sports trainers perform, or attempt to perform, any restricted practices limited to registered health professionals, they may have legal action taken against them, including prosecution. Their sports trainer accreditation with SMA may also be cancelled.



Insurance


Sports trainers should ensure that they have appropriate professional indemnity insurance coverage. Sometimes, they may be covered by insurance held by the sports club or organisation they are working for, especially if they are working as volunteers. Some sports insurance policies specifically do not cover medical procedures and, accordingly, will not include work done by sports trainers; others do not cover people working for remuneration.


Therefore, it is recommended that sports trainers consider obtaining appropriate personal professional indemnity insurance, especially if they are working for more than one club or sporting organisation.



Safety, health and wellbeing


Sporting environments can potentially include hazards and conditions that, although unusual and unlikely, can lead to personal injury, illness or even death. These hazards can pose a significant risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of athletes, officials, supporters and sports trainers.


The following sections examine some areas in which sports trainers can identify and minimise the risk of an accident or prevent an incident from occurring that may harm the sports trainer, the athletes, the spectators or others at sporting venues and events.



Physical health and fitness


It is essential that sports trainers maintain a reasonable level of physical fitness as the work that many of them undertake can be physically demanding, especially in an emergency. Regular physical exercise and an appropriate diet help sports trainers to not only avoid injury and illness but may also improve their ability to provide assistance to others. Sports trainers should consider consulting an appropriate health professional, such as an exercise physiologist, physiotherapist, certified fitness instructor or personal trainer, for advice on a suitable exercise program for their personal circumstances to maximise their personal fitness.


Sports trainers should also be role models for positive physical health and fitness. Sports trainers are in a position to positively model appropriate behaviour with regard to exercise and diet, as well as drug, alcohol and tobacco use, to the athletes under their care.


image

Figure 1.2 Physical health and fitness is important for sports trainers

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Moving injured athletes Functional musculoskeletal anatomy Drugs in sport Sports taping Common medical conditions affecting athletes Common sporting illnesses and injuries

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Sep 11, 2016 | Posted by in SPORT MEDICINE | Comments Off on The sports trainer in action

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