Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award

ATTENTION: The Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award will begin taking applications this Nov.1 and close on Dec. 31. 

 

The NATA Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Committee has established the Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award to recognize deserving athletic trainers in secondary schools across the country. Speifically this award recognizes eleven district winners and one overall national winner. 

 

Qualifications

  • Elevate the athletic training profession at the secondary school level. 
  • Provide public awareness, promotion and education about the AT’s role in their local communities.
  • Contribute to their communities beyond their athletic environments. 
  • Help establish and maintain the athletic trainers’ presence in the secondary school setting.
  • Provide quality patient health care.
  • Volunteering and Leadership within the association
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Working relationships with stakeholders (Admin, Coaches, Parents and Athletes)
  • Have published work or speaker for continuing education event or other educational session
  • Mentoring of other athletic trainers
  • Mentoring high school students interested in the profession
  • Submission of your complete school Policy and Procedure Manual
  • Submission of all venue specific Emergency Action Plans
  • Provide information on your Athletic Training Student Aide program, if you have one.

 

Award Eligibility

Must be provided by the nominee when completing nomination form. If the information is not provided the nomination will not be considered complete and will not be scored.

  • NATA member in good standing.
  • Current NPI number (with appropriate taxonomy code).
  • Registered/licensed by state (if required). 
  • Current BOC certification.
  • Must have been certified and at the Secondary School level for at least 5 years.
  • Candidates must follow best practices, including the NATA Secondary School Statement on Proper Use of High School Athletic Training Student Aides.

 

Nomination Process

Nominators must submit a letter (500-750 words) on the candidate’s contribution to furthering their secondary school’s athletic care program or the overall profession of athletic training at the secondary school level.  The nominator letter should specifically address the candidate’s abilities listed above along with their leadership qualities, advocacy, and service to the profession.  Individuals cannot self-nominate.  Nominations may be initiated by one of the following:

  • School administrator (i.e. principal, vice principal, superintendent, athletic director)
  • Athletic health care team member (i.e. athletic trainer, team-supervising physician, physician, physical therapist, school nurse, registered dietitian, strength and conditioning coach)
  • Coach
  • Parent

Upon nomination, the nominee will receive an email alerting him/her to the nomination and provide instructions to accept/decline the nomination and complete the application. 

Winner will be announced in Spring of 2025. 

 

Nominees

  • Along with the application, nominees must also submit 3 Letters of Support. These may be from one of the following:
    • School administrator (i.e. principal, vice principal, superintendent, athletic director)
    • Athletic health care team member (i.e. athletic trainer, team-supervising physician, physician, physical therapist, school nurse, registered dietitian, strength and conditioning coach)
    • Coach
    • Parent
  • Support letters must be 1 page max and highlighting the nominee’s qualifications for the award as specified above.
  • All support letters, EAPs, P&Ps and supporting material need to be in PDF or Word formats. 

 

Award Winners

All district winners will be notified each year to allow adequate time for travel arrangements to be made.

Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award District Winners (11) will receive:

  • Award certificate to be presented at the finalist’s district meeting.
  • District Winner Award piece and recognition at the annual NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo.

Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award National Winner (1) will receive. 

  • National Winner Award piece and recognition at the annual NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo.
  • Winner banner to hang at school or worksite. 

To Nominate an AT for this award, click HERE.