CATA VIEWS Richard DeMont, PhD, CAT(C), ATC, Column Editor

A New Column Begins!

W
ELCOME TO THE first installment of a new column, CATA Views. Many
readers of this journal have probably noticed the small logo in the
table of contents indicating that this journal is the official publication
of the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association. Most readers prob-
ably do not know that aside from this connection with the CATA, the
publishers also produce a newsletter in each issue with entirely Cana-
dian content. The newsletter is only included in the copies en route to
those of us who are members of the CATA. The newsletter is of course
a helpful insert; CATA members, aside from their regular mailings from
the National Office, get messages from the president of the CATA, com-
mittee chairs, and regional leaders informing the members of events
and topics from these authors’ perspective. So why have a CATA Views?
First, as an official publication of the CATA, shouldn’t there be more
content from CATA members? Look in any issue of the Journal of Ath-
letic Training, and my guess is that you will find that, whether research,
review, or case-study articles, primarily NATA members will have writ-
ten those manuscripts. So isn’t the newsletter good enough to get out
the CATA viewpoint? Well, to some extent, yes, it is. But the majority of
ATT subscribers don’t receive this insert. I’m sure I haven’t convinced
you yet if this column will be useful reading for you. Let me try. . . . In
this increasingly small world with increased globalization, it is helpful
to share ideas and plans with those outside one’s association, regard-
less of which association that is. Sure, many of the readers are from
the NATA and CATA, but others are from the Far East, the Southern
Hemisphere, Europe, and other exotic locations.
ATs have learned theories and techniques from many other profes-
sions since the beginning of this profession in North America. Over
the “modern” youth period of athletic training and therapy, we have
taken information from family physicians, surgeons, osteopaths and
chiropractors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, massage
therapists and acupuncturists, and some others. I like to think that we
have taught these professionals a thing or two over the years, as well.
Perhaps an area that has been overlooked in the profession’s develop-
ment and education is what we have learned from our counterparts
across the border. You might have noticed my credentials—I hold cer-
tification from both the CATA and the NATA. The differences in the two
associations could probably fill a few of these columns and undoubt-
edly will contribute to some of the content. But for this column to be of

© 2003 Human Kinetics • ATT 8(1), pp. 54-55

54 ❚ JANUARY 2003 ATHLETIC THERAPY TODAY

 benefit to all ATT readers there needs to be content
that all can learn from. This column will differ from
the newsletter insert because it will not be news. Pro-
fessional or clinical issues will be the norm.
What can you get out of this column? Obviously,
from the title, the publisher, editors, and I hope this
column will be a place for learning about the per-
spectives of the CATA. These perspectives could cover
a wide variety of topics.
The World Federation of Athletic Training and
Therapy (WFATT) is a new (4-year-old) entity orga-
nized to bridge the gap between different associa-
tions concerned with athletics-related prevention,
assessment, and rehabilitation of trauma from differ-
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ent regions of the word. Members of its charter asso-
ciations come from seven countries. North America
only represents two of those countries but certainly a
large percentage of the membership. This is not a
venue for promoting the WFATT, but that doesn’t
mean it gets ignored, either. For example, every 2
years the WFATT holds a World Congress. This year it
will be in Canada (Victoria, May 2003). This is an
important congress for Canadians and other readers.
The theme is North American Sports, and it will be
an important event for exchanging ideas among or-
ganizations and their individual members. Because it
is held only once every 2 years, this column can cer-
tainly provide a forum for regular exchange of “per-
spectives” between those events.
As another example, and more important to North
American readers, there is currently a group (the Joint
Task Force on Credential Recognition) assembling with
the goal of creating a process to establish a mutual
agreement concerning credential recognition (not
reciprocity) between the NATA and the CATA. There
are many issues involved in taking this step, and the
first is to establish the process for coming to some
agreement. Although we are still many steps away
ATHLETIC THERAPY TODAY
from the final outcome and knowing what any pos-
sible agreement might look like, the issue is quite
important to the CATA. With increased globalization,
more members wish to move to a job situation that
most interests them. The Nordiques are no longer in
Quebec, and the Jets are no longer in Winnipeg. The
Cirque de Soleil started its shows in Montreal and then
was exported. Perhaps a spouse moves to another
country. Will the AT be able to work in the new loca-
tion? What about professional sports? It seems that
many teams are finding it challenging to stay in
Canada. Indeed, some teams might move the other
way. (Ok, maybe this is only wishful thinking for the
Sabers!) So when these moves occur, how do they
affect ATs with the other organization? Although that
process will not be decided in this space, the issue
again has aspects of interest to CATA members mak-
ing a move. It could be that the framework developed
would be useful to other organizations globally.
These are just a few ideas on topics that are im-
portant to CATA members; there are many others. But
this column cannot just be my opinion on important
issues to or procedures and events for CATA mem-
bers. I will solicit topics from various sources in the
CATA and perhaps some outside the CATA. If you are
concerned about a perspective related to the CATA, I
invite you to share the discussion with the CATA mem-
bers and other readers of ATT through a contribution
to this column (rdemont@alcor.concordia.ca). I am
also happy to receive your comments and your per-
spectives about the column and the views that you
read in this space. ❚
Richard DeMont is an assistant professor in the Department of Exer-
cise Science at Concordia University in Montreal. He has been a mem-
ber of the CATA since 1989 and the NATA since 1997. He did his initial
AT training at Sheridan College (Ontario) and is a graduate of Indiana
State University and the University of Pittsburgh.
JANUARY 2003 ❚ 55