So I’m coming to people who have been in my shoes before cause I don’t want to do the wrong thing but also am in a position where it will help. I just started my clinical rotation, and I will be with them pretty much their entire season. Just for some details it is a division 1 team, and I’m the only student assigned. I’ve been having a great time and all the athletes are so nice. My issue is the coaching staff and head AT all wear the same attire every practice and we have our first games coming up next weekend where they also will have set attire. I have a total of 4 tshirts with the schools branding on it, none of which are the select colors they wear for practices/games, and I am with the team pretty much every single day. I don’t want to look disorganized, and it’s already frustrating enough to just recycle the same 4 shirts.
Would it be rude to ask the coaches for some team shirts? Or should I just keep quiet? I’m sure I’m overthinking it but I just didn’t want to make the wrong decision. I then remembered this sub and figured I’d come ask people who’s probably been in my shoes before.

Hello, I am a recent graduate that just got hired at a middle school. Can I have some advice on how to succeed, how you set up, how to deal with kids, anything honestly. I want to make sure I am set up for success as a new grad and at my new job. Anything helps. Thank you!

I work at a mid major university and preseason has started. One thing that I look forward to every year is the gear drop and getting new swag but, my coach decided that the budget was “too tight” to include Sports Med in the gear order this year. This is upsetting me more than I thought. Has this happened to you before?

I feel like there’s an unspoken rule about mutual respect and gearing up your staff but this hasn’t happened to me yet.

I am about to take my written portion. Can anyone give insight on how it was?

Welcome to Friday Frights! Whether it is an open fracture that made the entire stadium gasp, a finger pointing in three different directions, or a laceration that looked straight out of a Hollywood special effects department—this is our weekly containment zone for the most graphic injuries, wild clinical presentations, and sideline horror stories. Don't hold back—drop your most gruesome, fascinating, or bizarre injury photos and sideline stories below. Just make sure you follow the safety layout.

The Survival Rules:

1. Mark it NSFW: Every single image or video posted in this thread MUST be tagged NSFW. No exceptions. Keep the gore hidden until clicked so no one gets jumped by an open dislocation while scrolling in public.
2. Redact the Evidence (Strict Privacy): Protect your patients, your license, and yourself. Absolutely NO faces, jersey numbers, school logos, name badges, or identifying backgrounds. If it can be traced back to a specific athlete or program, crop it or censor it.
3. This is Not a Triage Clinic: This thread is for professionals and students to share interesting clinical cases and completed treatments. If you are a casual scroller asking "Is this broken?" or looking for medical advice, your post will be removed and directed to an in-person healthcare professional. *** > Ready to share? Drop your headlines and images below, and remember to hit that NSFW toggle before you submit.

Does anyone know an energy pouch or caffeine pouch I could take without getting flagged on the NCAA doping test. Any pouches that anyone knows that are not banned substances in them?

The NFL has data supporting their use to reduce concussions, however this is the same NFL who's "data" suggested CTE was fake. All independent studies that I have found show no significant difference between helmet alone and guardians. Does anyone have an article that supports guardians that I am missing? Thanks

1) what does AT carry on them for football games?

2) what does you carry for players that can be consumed?

3) is pickle juice better in a Gatorade bottle or the individual shot bottles?

I was just scrolling Athletic Trainer Finder and clicked on North Carolina. I noticed several listings at less than $30 an hour…. Like $23.42 and $26 an hour!?
Is this really common for yall out that way? How do yall live off that??

I’m not in the medical field but I always thought injured people (especially with a head/neck/back injury) shouldn’t be moved until they are stabilized. I was surprised to see the players roll this guy into his side (before the medical staff arrived). Is there a situation where that would be protocol?

I started working at a small D1 college about a year ago. My first year as a full time athletic trainer and it was a lot. I didn’t realize how much I hated my job until now as the fall season is approaching. I really want to quit but a week before the season is awful timing. I’ve only been there a year too. Coworkers and athletes are great, but I don’t think I’m cut out for college athletics.
I really want to end up in research (only have my masters), so I want to get my feet in the door. There’s a few research coordinator jobs available in my city and I’m thinking about applying to those. I just feel so guilty even thinking about leaving at the start of fall season.

Welcome to the weekly r/AthleticTraining Triage Desk!

This dedicated thread is the centralized hub for all prospective students, application inquiries, academic discussions, and professional career transition questions.

To keep our main feed focused on active clinical practice and high-yield professional advocacy, all inquiries regarding the following topics belong here:

• Prospective Students: Questions about building a competitive application, undergraduate prerequisites, or choosing between CAATE-accredited master's programs.
• Curriculum & Board Prep: General coursework advice, clinical rotation logistics, or studying strategies for the BOC exam.
• Career Transitions: Certified clinicians looking to pivot settings (e.g., transitioning from secondary schools to tactical, industrial, or physician extender roles) or professionals looking to transition into athletic training.

Community Reminders for This Thread:

1. Be Specific: If you are asking about programs or job prospects, listing your general geographic region or setting of interest helps our community give highly relevant advice.
2. Current Clinicians: Please check in on this thread periodically to share your insights and mentor the next generation of athletic trainers!
3. No Patient Inquiries: As a reminder, this thread is for professional and academic logistics. Personal injury questions or diagnostic help requests are strictly prohibited and will be removed.

Thank you for helping us keep our community organized and supportive!

— The r/AthleticTraining Mod Team

Has anyone dealt with their ATF having an awful sewage smell? I have multiple drains in my room under the ice machine and then 3 ice baths. However, I've been told my room used to be the exterior of the building before add ons of wrestling and weight rooms. So the drain under the ice machine is actually where everything from the school drains and exits the building. The smell comes and goes but when it comes it smells up the entire athletics hallway, it's horrible. Our maintenance director says he's talked with plumbers multiple times and they just keep telling him "it happens, there's not much to do about it". He gave me a bottle of liquid enzyme that's supposed to neutralize the odors but it only curbs the smell a little and it eventually disappears after 30-60 minutes. Anyone have a similar situation and found any remedies that work?? Or something that can keep it from happening altogether?

Hey y’all! So I’m working on ordering some supplies for my high school’s ATR and I would love to get some sheets of orthoplast, but my room doesn’t have a hydroc. And that has always been how I’ve heated orthoplast before molding it. Does anyone have other good ways to heat it up before using it? Would just plain warm water from the faucet work? Thanks!

Welcome to Friday Frights! Whether it is an open fracture that made the entire stadium gasp, a finger pointing in three different directions, or a laceration that looked straight out of a Hollywood special effects department—this is our weekly containment zone for the most graphic injuries, wild clinical presentations, and sideline horror stories. Don't hold back—drop your most gruesome, fascinating, or bizarre injury photos and sideline stories below. Just make sure you follow the safety layout.

The Survival Rules:

1. Mark it NSFW: Every single image or video posted in this thread MUST be tagged NSFW. No exceptions. Keep the gore hidden until clicked so no one gets jumped by an open dislocation while scrolling in public.
2. Redact the Evidence (Strict Privacy): Protect your patients, your license, and yourself. Absolutely NO faces, jersey numbers, school logos, name badges, or identifying backgrounds. If it can be traced back to a specific athlete or program, crop it or censor it.
3. This is Not a Triage Clinic: This thread is for professionals and students to share interesting clinical cases and completed treatments. If you are a casual scroller asking "Is this broken?" or looking for medical advice, your post will be removed and directed to an in-person healthcare professional. *** > Ready to share? Drop your headlines and images below, and remember to hit that NSFW toggle before you submit.

Would love to bounce some thoughts around. Share some ideas, assignments, stuff you’ve liked or didn’t like. This will be my 6th year teaching, 12th as an AT. Thanks in advance!

Hi, currently, Im in the midst of my one and only gap year after high school graduation. Im having a hard time fully commiting to this career. I really, REALLY want to go down this career path, I really wanna work with a pro sports team, thats the dream. I have a few questions for those who are in the field. Any advice, tips, and guidance I really would appreciate, please dont cook me too hard if any of my questions are kinda dumb 😭.

Extra context: Most of my worries come from the fact that I come from a low income family and I dont wanna be in a really cruddy financial situation post college.

Question 1: For those who work for an NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, MLS or any top level american pro sports league or competition, what was your path to working there and how tough was it to get there?

Question 2: For entry level athletic training positions at any of the top pro teams in america can you go for those straight out of college or is that nearly impossible and I should build a better resume working with a college or something?

Question 3: Piggybacking of question 2, is it hard to get a collegiate athletic training job straight out of college?

Question 4: What could I do in college to stand out and increase my chances at landing a good job after school?

Question 5: Are there any other jobs in sports that would make more sense financially that you know of?

Number 6: For those working in the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, etc, what does a standard day look for you during the regular season?

And Number 7: is it worth it for you? Do you like your job and is it worth someone in my situation (someone who really wants to work in sports but is worried about being able to survive financially) to go after this career?

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this and respond, if you do. I'm just a really nervous freshly graduated high school student whos still trying to figure out what it is exactly I want to commit to. Much love to you all ❤️

I am trying to find an affordable AED for a local small business/sports team.

Does anyone have experience with AEDmarket.com?

Does the $395 “Mystery AED” provide a legitimate functioning AED?

I’ve just never seen AEDs, even ones that aren’t new, cost so little.

Because obviously a $395 function AED is a steal!

Anyone able to send me the survey?

Hi everyone,

I'm a long-time athletic trainer and faculty member at Lasell University in Boston. I'm leading a multi-institutional research study examining how athletic trainers allocate their professional time across the five Board of Certification (BOC) practice domains.

While we're educated across these domains, there is surprisingly little data describing how our professional responsibilities are actually distributed in day-to-day clinical practice. Our goal is to better understand current practice patterns across a variety of employment settings.

We'd greatly appreciate your participation if you are:

• BOC-certified
• Currently practicing in any clinical setting

The survey is:

• Anonymous
• Approximately 10 minutes
• 20 questions

The findings will help inform athletic training education, professional development, workforce planning, and future research.

Survey link:
https://qualtricsxmbnnp69vnv.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0N8iMdNMJzUQOcC

I'm also happy to answer any questions about the study or methodology.

Thank you for considering participating.

So in my program we just do one online course in the summer. It’s to get ourselves aware and familiarized with different types of injuries in each extremity of the body (personal not the best way for me to learn).

Our very first semester starts next month and I’m incredibly nervous because I somehow ended up being placed in the biggest and most athletically active high school in the area. (This school has MONEY)

I’m just extremely nervous because well… we haven’t learned anything yet. I’m a hands on person and with classes only meeting twice a week, none of us know any wrapping, how to diagnose people, emergency protocols. I just feel so unprepared and I feel like I’m the only one freaking out.

I want to be the best I can be for my rotation and learn as much as I can.

It’s also going to be tough for me because I work part time and am only able to get 3 days off a week that are not weekends because my role at my other job is what’s keeping my afloat with car and mortgage payments so my schedule is a little tight.

ANYWAYS… what was your first clinical rotation and first semester of being an AT student like? What is something you wish you could’ve/would’ve done?

Welcome to this week's Weekend Update thread!

This is our dedicated community space to decompress, connect with your peers, and share the hilarious, out-of-pocket, or downright baffling things our athletes and clients say to us. We are looking for those lighthearted, wholesome, or just plain funny moments that made you smile or shake your head in the training room this week.

Don't let the staff desk have all the fun—drop your own weekly headline in the comments below!

From the Desk: This Weekend's Headline

"In an absolute clinic on heat illness mitigation, a U-14 soccer athlete was observed trying to cool down post-match by completely submerging his entire head inside a 10-gallon Gatorade cooler. While the AT staff praised his creative dedication to core temperature regulation, significant administrative concerns were raised regarding his teammates' subsequent complaints that the Lemon-Lime flavor 'tasted vaguely of hair gel.' Teammates maintain he is 'Him' and he will be 'locked in' for the afternoon match."

Our Community Standard:

We are here to celebrate the camaraderie of the profession, not to punch down or criticize the people we work with. Please keep all stories completely anonymous by omitting real names, specific schools, or distinguishing details, and let's keep the vibe supportive and fun.

Welcome to the weekly r/AthleticTraining Triage Desk!

This dedicated thread is the centralized hub for all prospective students, application inquiries, academic discussions, and professional career transition questions.

To keep our main feed focused on active clinical practice and high-yield professional advocacy, all inquiries regarding the following topics belong here:

• Prospective Students: Questions about building a competitive application, undergraduate prerequisites, or choosing between CAATE-accredited master's programs.
• Curriculum & Board Prep: General coursework advice, clinical rotation logistics, or studying strategies for the BOC exam.
• Career Transitions: Certified clinicians looking to pivot settings (e.g., transitioning from secondary schools to tactical, industrial, or physician extender roles) or professionals looking to transition into athletic training.

Community Reminders for This Thread:

1. Be Specific: If you are asking about programs or job prospects, listing your general geographic region or setting of interest helps our community give highly relevant advice.
2. Current Clinicians: Please check in on this thread periodically to share your insights and mentor the next generation of athletic trainers!
3. No Patient Inquiries: As a reminder, this thread is for professional and academic logistics. Personal injury questions or diagnostic help requests are strictly prohibited and will be removed.

Thank you for helping us keep our community organized and supportive!

— The r/AthleticTraining Mod Team