Athletic Training is the art and science in the prevention, care and treatment of injuries to the physically active.  This group includes everyone from the 4 and 5 year olds in kiddy kicker soccer player to the 300-pound plus NFL lineman.  The people training for the Ironman Triathlon, the week-end tennis and softball players and those just wanting to get in better physical shape are all treated by athletic trainers.

 In Delaware, athletic trainers are found in the obvious places.  College and high school athletic programs, professional teams, sports medicine and physical therapy clinics all benefit from the athletic trainers knowledge and caring.  Athletic trainers are also found in the not so obvious places, in college classrooms as teachers, both for a new generation of athletic trainers, but also physical therapist and in other disciplines.  In the lab, athletic trainers are doing cutting edge research in development movement, injury prevention, and other areas.  Industrial setting are seeing the value of athletic trainers in prevention of work place injuries and also to assist their employees injured off the job.

 The prevention end of athletic training comes into play in many different ways.  The obvious things like inspection of the field or court prior to the game.  We also make sure that the drills coaches have designed are safe.  Athletic trainers in some cases even inspect the equipment that players wear to make sure it is safe.  This in the eyes of most athletic trainers is the most important aspect of the job.

 The most visible part of the job is the care and treatment of the injuries.  Everyone has seen the injured athlete on the field or court.  The person usually tending to them is the athletic trainer.  The unique education of the athletic training allows for the quick evaluation of injuries on the field.  In many cases, the treatment and rehabilitation begin even before the athlete leaves the field.

 The National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification and Licensed by the State of Delaware Division of Professional Regulation must certify all athletic trainers in Delaware.  Students in approved athletic training curriculums, such as those at the University of Delaware must work under the supervision of a certified and licensed athletic trainer.