Training program helps teams

The Athletic Training Program serves about 150 athletes and is responsible for taking care of them when they are injured.

“We do validation, rehabilitation and work with the team’s physician,” said Paul Higgs, head of the athletic training program. “We are the first to deal with the injury or illness.”

The program takes care of GC&SU’s nine sports teams, the dance team and the cheerleaders.

“We cut down the risk of re-injury and keep them on the court or field as much as we can and return them as quickly or faithfully as possible,” said Higgs. “I enjoy taking an athlete that is injured and working with them and bringing them back to their pervious state. I enjoy helping them stay on the level that they are.”

The program includes the head trainer, Paul Higgs; a graduate assistant, Kelli Bowermeister; and 17 undergraduate students. They attend all the practices and games for their teams. They are required to complete 1500 hours of athletic training: 375 of those must be high-risk hours and 751 of those must be done on campus. These hours are either low risk or high risk. High risk includes training hours done with the basketball, football or wresting teams, while low risk includes training hours done with the softball or baseball teams. All of the hours must be done with a certified trainer.

“It is a good experience for the trainers,” said Higgs. “It makes our job easier because we have more people involved.”

“The program is in pretty good shape. We are very fortunate to have the students and graduate assistant that we have. We are able to take care of the students in the best way,” said Higgs. “We help them to reach their goal. When they reach their goal, they contribute more to the team.”

Paul Higgs has been here four years. He received his undergraduate degree in Sports Medicine at Valdosta State and his master’s in Health and Physical Education at Georgia Southwestern.

“I was a student trainer in high school and college. I was always too short or too small to play any sports,” said Higgs. “I enjoy science and sports. This way you can put the two together. It is long hours, but it’s great.”

“He is a good teacher,” said Allison Abbott, one of the athletic trainers. “He can relate to us very well.”

“I have learned a lot from him. He is fabulous,” said Kelli Bowermeister, graduate assistant of the program. “He knows his skills in assessing the athletes and their injuries.”

This is Abbott’s second year in the program, and she works with the football team at Datewood High School.

“I have always enjoyed sports and played them throughout high school,” said Abbott. “I enjoyed the medical aspect. This program is perfect because I get to have the medical and sports at the same time.”

Bowermeister is the graduate student for the program this year. She works with athletes, gives rehabilitation programs for them, teaches students about athletic training and does office work.

“I think that it is a very good program,” said Bowermeister. “It’s hard work, but it is awarding.”

“I love sports, but I was always injured. I am a people person and love helping people,” said Bowermeister. “This way I could combine my all of natural talents and abilities.”

If you have any questions or are interested in the program, contact the Athletic Training Program at 445-1787.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 28 2001. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry