Running Head: IS IT WORTH IT

Is It Worth It
Charles White
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

IS IT WORTH IT

Suck it up. Tough it out. There is no I in team. These are a few of the
messages athletes receive from coaches, teammates, and fans. (OConnell, "Playing
through the pain: Psychiatric risks among athletes") Is this what we should be telling our
high school and college athletes? I dont think so--being a former track star, football, and
basketball athlete. Now being on the sideline coaching and having additional education
on body injuries, it would have been wiser to rest when hurt. However, some people
would not have that same disposition. What is the coaches role when it comes to players
are hurt? What is the mindset of an injured athlete, and how does it affect their
performance? Who makes the call on players coming back, the coach or the athletic
trainers?
Athletes should not be able to play after being injured because it could negatively
affect performance in the sport. It poses a high risk/low reward for the coaching staff,
considering they are the go-to people when athletes are writhing in pain. Athletic
trainers are educated on the human body; ultimately, they are in a better position to make
the call on a players return to the sport. If the improper call is made on an athletes
physicality, it could create legal troubles for not only the athletic trainers, but the entire
organization involved.
The first thing to remember is the coachs role, in terms of addressing an athletes
deformation. Every coach should be knowledgeable on sports equipment that promotes
athlete safety. It is their responsibility to ensure all athletes have the modern and wellmaintained safety equipment. Marc Cadden, a SAY National Director and member of the
National Training and Education Committee (SAYTEC), wrote an article that could serve
as a blueprint for coaches with little-to-no medical knowledge. In this article, Cadden

IS IT WORTH IT

states: The truth is that most coaches have no formal medical training, and yet, it is often
the coach who is on the front line for handling injuries in any sports activity. (Cadden,
"Injury Management For Coaches Without Medical Training") When coaches are faced
with a player getting hurt, they must: stay calm, let the player know that he/she is alright,
and show them you love them. Afterwards, ask a few questions like: Where is the
pain?, How did it happen?, and What did it feel like-- was there a sound, tear, rip or
pop? When coaches are asking these questions, they should see if the athlete is
communicating easily or if they are anxious. They should look for abnormal body
positions, and request the sporting event medical staff if necessary. (Bryce Compton,
MS, LAT, ATC Certified Athletic Trainer Certified Athletic Trainer)
Since the coachs role is defined, the next thing to consider is an athletes performance
and mindset after an injury. If they prematurely return to the sport, they are at a higher risk of reinjuring themselves, injuring additional body parts, and causing long-term damage. The players
cannot be solely held responsible in determining whether or not they should participate because
high school and college players will do everything they can to come back early. They must
realize that there is not only a physical loss, but also a psychological loss. When players are
injured, self-doubt is created in terms of their accustomed physical capabilities. The
overthinking and lack of confidence stemming from self-doubt could pose additional injuries, as
it distracts the athlete from freely performing. Athletes have to be not only physically prepared
to return to sport, but also psychologically ready (Waxenberg, "Returning Injured Athletes to the
Playing Field Too Soon Can Lead to Decreased Performance and Re-injury")
Moving forward, who is truly responsible for a players safety and their well-being? Who
ultimately makes the call for a players return, in a high school and collegiate sports setting?

IS IT WORTH IT

When players are hurt, they are to report to the trainers room to get evaluation and injury care
("Athletic Training Room Policies and Procedures "). The College of William and Mary has a
medical precedence that other schools should follow, as the organization requires all coaches to
take CPR classes. I think that all high school and college coaches should take this class because
it helps them learn about injuries and other medical information (The College of William and
Mary Division of Sports Medicine 221-3407). Coaches need to understand the importance of
trainers in high school and college sports. The work load of athletic trainers requires them to
have the proper medical equipment to effectively help injured players ("Athletic Training Room
Policies and Procedures "). Until a player is fully healed of the injury, he/she should not play--even if its the star player on the team. Trainers must place more emphasis on this, and not let the
coaches run all over them. At the end of the day, trainers are more educated in making medical
diagnoses and determining the best recovery methods (Samantha OConnell, PhD, July 2012).
Should we really just tell players to suck it up and tough it out? I dont think so, even
though I know a lot of people will disagree with me. Players dont need to put their body on the
line, just for one game. Its not worth it, and will never will be. I always heard that when a player
is hurt, its the next guy that must step up. High school and college players should not put their
health and future on the line. Ive informed you on the coachs role, how the mindset and the
performance can affect players, and who should make the call for players to return to action.
Regardless of the sport, coaches and trainers need to put the future and health of kids first.
Currently, we as a society have not done a great job at putting this to proper practice.

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5
Bibliography

Waxenberg, R. (2014, January 1). Returning Injured Athletes to the Playing Field Too Soon Can
Lead to Decreased Performance and Re-injury. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://www.nata.org/NR040909b
The College of William and Mary Division of Sports Medicine 221-3407. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://web.wm.edu/sportsmedicine/emergencyprocedures.pdf
Compton, B. (n.d.). Coach Coachs Role in Injury s Role in Injury Prevention and Treatment
Prevention and Treatment. Retrieved November 25, 2014, from
http://www.provena.org/covenant/documents/HMI/Coaches' Role in Injury Prevention and
Treatment.pdf
OConnell, S. (2014, January 1). Playing through the pain: Psychiatric risks among athletes.
Retrieved November 25, 2014, from
http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/home/article/playing-through-the-pain-psychiatric-risksamong-athletes/1c7f3e9461443ab482f921258ea5c07c.html

Cadden, M. (n.d.). Injury Management For Coaches Without Medical Training. Retrieved
November 15, 2014, from http://www.saysoccer.org/resources/1/SAYTEC Library/Player Health
Issues/(saytec) Injury Management For Coaches Without Medical Training (player health
issues).pdf

IS IT WORTH IT

Athletic Training Room Policies and Procedures. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2014, from
http://www.proctoracademy.org/ftpimages/3/download/Athletic Training Room Policies and
Procedures.pdf
http://www.proctoracademy.org/ftpimages/3/download/Athletic%20Training%20Room%20Polic
ies%20and%20Procedures.pdf