Job Description

Certified Athletic Trainer Job Description

The Certified Athletic Trainer (AT) is responsible for providing athletic training and sports medicine services to student-athletes at an assigned Bay District Schools high school in coordination with Southern Orthopedic Specialists. The AT serves as a primary point of contact for the prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and management of athletic injuries and illnesses within the athletic training scope of practice.

The position requires independent professional judgment, effective communication, appropriate clinical documentation, and close coordination with student-athletes, parents or guardians, coaches, school administrators, SOS physicians and clinical staff, and other healthcare professionals.

Each AT will generally be assigned to a primary BDS high school; however, assignments may be modified based upon athletic schedules, staffing needs, seasonal demands, absences, postseason competition, and other operational requirements. ATs may be required to provide temporary or supplemental coverage at other participating BDS schools.

Athletic Training Room & Student-Athlete Care

• Operate and manage the athletic training room at the assigned school in accordance with SOS policies, applicable BDS requirements, professional standards, and Florida law.
• Evaluate student-athletes presenting with acute, chronic, or activity-related injuries and illnesses within the athletic trainer's scope of practice.
• Provide appropriate immediate care, treatment, therapeutic intervention, rehabilitation, and injury-management services.
• Develop and implement appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plans within the AT's scope of practice and established medical protocols.
• Monitor student-athlete progress and modify treatment or rehabilitation activities as clinically appropriate.
• Provide injury-prevention services, including appropriate taping, wrapping, bracing, stretching, conditioning guidance, and other preventive measures.
• Assist student-athletes with safe progression back to athletic participation in accordance with applicable medical direction, established protocols, and return-to-play requirements.
• Recognize conditions requiring physician or other healthcare-provider evaluation and facilitate appropriate referral.
• Maintain appropriate follow-up with injured student-athletes and communicate relevant restrictions, limitations, or participation status to authorized individuals.
• Maintain the athletic training room, equipment, supplies, treatment areas, and medical inventory in a clean, organized, safe, and professionally appropriate condition.

Injury Evaluation, Emergency Response & Safety

• Provide on-site evaluation and immediate care for injuries and illnesses occurring during covered athletic activities.
• Recognize and appropriately respond to potentially serious or emergent conditions, including suspected concussion, heat-related illness, sudden cardiac events, cervical spine injury, fractures, dislocations, respiratory distress, and other acute medical conditions.
• Activate emergency medical services when clinically indicated and provide appropriate care within the AT's training and scope of practice until higher-level medical assistance arrives.
• Assist with implementation and periodic review of applicable venue-specific Emergency Action Plans (EAPs).
• Maintain familiarity with the location and accessibility of emergency equipment, including automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
• Participate in emergency preparedness activities and coordinate, as appropriate, with school personnel, coaches, administrators, EMS, and other healthcare professionals.
• Follow applicable concussion recognition, removal-from-play, evaluation, referral, and return-to-play protocols.
• Follow applicable environmental and activity-safety protocols, including heat illness prevention and other weather-related precautions.

Athletic Event Coverage

The AT will provide athletic event coverage according to SOS staffing assignments and established program priorities. Coverage priorities generally include:

1. Athletic training room operations, student-athlete evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and injury management.
2. BDS-sanctioned regular-season home interscholastic athletic competitions.
3. Varsity football games, including designated away-game coverage when assigned.
4. FHSAA mandatory state-series postseason competitions hosted at a BDS facility.

Event coverage may vary based upon season, sport risk, staffing availability, scheduling conflicts, operational needs, and other reasonable circumstances. SOS retains authority over staffing assignments and coverage allocations.

ATs may be reassigned temporarily among participating schools to maintain appropriate program coverage.

Event & Schedule Availability

• Maintain sufficient scheduling flexibility to accommodate the nontraditional hours associated with interscholastic athletics, including afternoons, evenings, and occasional weekends.
• On active athletic days, remain available for routine program-related communications between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., consistent with established scheduling and employment expectations.
• When providing scheduled event coverage that remains in progress at 10:00 p.m., continue coverage through the conclusion of the assigned event or until appropriately relieved.
• Promptly communicate known schedule conflicts, coverage concerns, absences, or significant schedule changes to the appropriate SOS supervisor.
• Coordinate with appropriate school personnel regarding athletic schedules and material schedule changes while recognizing that SOS retains final authority regarding AT staffing and coverage.

Excluded & Additional Event Coverage

Standard job assignments under the BDS athletic training program do not automatically include coverage of:

• Privately sponsored travel teams;
• Club sports;
• Private camps or clinics;
• Third-party facility rentals; or
• Other events that are not BDS-sanctioned athletic activities.

Holiday tournaments, special invitationals, booster-club fundraising events, and similar activities may require AT coverage only when specifically authorized and assigned by SOS pursuant to the applicable agreement.

The AT shall not independently commit SOS to coverage of an event outside the established program without appropriate authorization.

Physician & Healthcare Coordination

• Serve as a liaison between student-athletes, parents or guardians, coaches, school personnel, SOS physicians, and other healthcare professionals regarding athletic injuries and participation status, subject to applicable privacy and consent requirements.
• Facilitate referrals to SOS physicians or other appropriate healthcare providers when further evaluation or treatment is indicated.
• Communicate relevant clinical information to treating providers to promote continuity of care.
• Implement physician-directed treatment, rehabilitation, restrictions, and return-to-play instructions within the AT's professional scope.
• Assist with coordination of follow-up appointments, diagnostic evaluations, bracing, durable medical equipment, physical therapy, or other services when appropriate.
• Maintain professional independence and clinical judgment consistent with applicable laws, professional standards, and medical direction.

Documentation & Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintain timely, accurate, and complete documentation of student-athlete evaluations, injuries, treatments, rehabilitation activities, referrals, participation restrictions, and other required athletic training services.
• Maintain records in accordance with SOS policies, applicable BDS requirements, privacy requirements, and applicable state and federal law.
• Complete required injury reports, incident reports, treatment logs, and other program documentation.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of student-athlete medical information.
• Assist SOS with program data collection, utilization reporting, injury trends, supply needs, and other information reasonably necessary to administer the athletic training program.
• Attend meetings, training sessions, program reviews, and other activities reasonably required by SOS.

Communication & Professional Relationships

• Establish and maintain professional working relationships with coaches, athletic directors, school administrators, physicians, parents or guardians, student-athletes, EMS personnel, and other healthcare professionals.
• Communicate student-athlete participation restrictions and return-to-play status clearly and professionally to authorized school personnel.
• Educate student-athletes, coaches, and parents or guardians regarding injury prevention, appropriate injury management, rehabilitation expectations, hydration, heat illness, concussion awareness, and other relevant sports medicine topics.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with minor student-athletes at all times.
• Promptly escalate significant medical, operational, safety, or administrative concerns to the appropriate SOS supervisor.

Mandatory Reporting & Student Safety

• Comply with Florida's mandatory reporting requirements concerning suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, including Section 39.201, Florida Statutes.
• Immediately report suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect through the appropriate Florida Department of Children and Families reporting mechanism as required by law.
• Complete required training regarding mandatory reporting, student safety, professional boundaries, and other applicable requirements.
• Cooperate with SOS and BDS policies and procedures intended to protect the health, safety, and welfare of student-athletes.

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