smithson valley
sports medicine

Smithson Valley High School is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award for its Sports Medicine Program. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment.

“The health and safety of student athletes is critical as it has both immediate and long-term effects,” said NATA President Kathy Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC. “The National Athletic Trainers’ Association created the ‘Safe Sports School Award’ to recognize and champion schools nationwide that are committed to safety in sports. We are proud to see the list of award recipients grow exponentially each year as schools see the immense value in holding themselves to best practices and policies that ensure a high standard of athlete care.”

In order to achieve Safe Sports School status, as (name of school) did, athletic programs must do the following:

· Create a positive athletic health care administrative system

· Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations

· Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities

· Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment

· Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes

· Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions

· Provide or facilitate injury intervention

· Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan

· Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education

· Be sure athletes and parents are educated about the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities