The O'Connell Trainers

A Day in a Life-- DJO Trainers

Kelly Plante('28)

Every day while at lunches, games, and practices a trainer stands by to prevent injuries and be there for every athlete, in every win and every achievement. Mrs. Erin Rose, a DJO trainer, sees up to 100 students a day and does everything from preventative care to rehab and first aid; without her and her colleagues many athletes would have been forced to stop playing due to an injury. Being a trainer is a rewarding job with the opportunity to build valuable relationships with students and watch athletes go through the highs and lows of a season. The Visor had the opportunity to speak with Mrs. Rose and not only discuss her job but see some of the interactions she had with athletes and the caring culture of the training room. 

Trainers are available during and after school, coming into work for all lunches and remaining until all games are over and injury reports are filled out. Mrs. Rose makes it a point to have trainers available whenever a student might need help and attempts to make treatment available to every athlete regardless of scheduling. Much of the day is spent teaching kids how to stretch and prevent soreness, or dealing with muscle pulls and aching from the student’s previous practice. Trainers are not simply meant to help an athlete recover but also to keep students healthy and safe to avoid an injury in the first place. When injuries do occur trainers are nearby at all games and practices providing immediate care to players from both O’Connell and their opponents to create a plan for treatment.. Even with this basic structure Mrs. Rose feels as though, “[p]art of the day relies on human interaction and being outside which makes each day different.” Though being at the trainer’s for less than an hour, this reporter personally saw the relationships built between the trainers and the students that promote fun and trust as an athlete goes through the season. 

Mrs. Rose and the trainers spend so much of their time helping  students through both the physical and mental aspect of an injury to the point where they describe the job as, “part therapist.” A trainer working with a student has to go through both the highs and lows of the season, often being there for students as they deal with a long rehab process. One of the hardest aspects of the job is motivating students through rehab even when they don’t see the point of moving forward. Mrs. Rose finds it especially difficult when she has to help a student through a season ending injury. Often the trainers care more about an injury than a student does so Mrs. Rose and her colleagues have to motivate an athlete and monitor the activity of the student extra carefully, playing a huge role in the journey back to the field. Some injuries are far less serious and common. As Mrs. Rose reflected, “We see a lot of sprained ankles!” The trainers help with all sorts of injuries from basic first aid to pulled muscles and chronic pain. Most O’Connell athletes owe some of their success to the trainers that got them back onto the field when they couldn’t find a way! 

Mrs. Rose cherishes each interaction of the day and uses them to remind her of why she became a trainer. From a young age Mrs. Rose was involved in sports and knew she wanted to work in the industry helping younger athletes. Trainers are people who wouldn’t be happy working indoors behind a desk, rather they value the events that make each day different. Mrs. Rose appreciates that “people come to me with their problems,” understanding how important her work is to the community and how worthwhile the job is. Trainers all have a masters in athletic training or a related field as well as a certificate after passing a board exam. Mrs. Rose has a bachelors in kinesiology, the study of the body, and a two year masters of science in athletic training which makes her an expert and an asset for any student struggling with pain. 

Trainers act as a safeguard for every player, are always there for an athlete mentally and physically, and have become a crucial part of the Bishop O’Connell community. Without the support of trainers like Mrs. Rose, students would experience far more injuries and suffer more time away from the field without rehab. Beyond a player’s hard work, trainers motivate athletes through a season and make sure they can perform their best on the field and feel comfortable while playing. Trainers at DJO want the best for every athlete and are there to see every home run, every touchdown, every goal, and every personal best that give a name to Bishop O’Connell sports.