Athletic training emerged in the early 20th century during the Olympic games as injuries to athletes were traditionally treated by coaches or physicians. The first athletic trainers helped treat injuries and prevent them by teaching techniques to avoid harm. In the 1950s, the National Athletic Trainers' Association was founded to standardize and professionalize the field. It has since expanded certification requirements and educational standards to become an accredited allied health profession.

1. Skylar Henry
EXS101 Online
Louis So
31 Jan 2015
History of Athletic
Training

2. • help prevent and treat
injuries that are typically
caused by athletic
involvement
• teach preventive measures to
avoid injuries, as well as
proper use of athletic
equipment
• first responders to injuries at
athletic events and
administer first aid to
athletes
What are athletic trainers?

3. • Before athletic training, injuries to
athletes were treated by coaches
or a team physician.
• first emerged during the
20th century Olympic games
• football surfaced as a national
sport in the United States
– many realized the need for these
trainers to be present at the games
• 1950s brought about the National
Athletic Trainers’Association
– included trainers from Japan, Canada,
and the United States.
Beginnings

4. • National Athletic Trainers’
Association (NATA) was founded
in 1950
• unifies certified athletic trainers
across the country by setting a
standard for professionalism,
education, certification, research
and practice settings
• first meeting of the NATA took
place in Kansas City
– About 200 athletic trainers present
– Has expanded to encompass a global
membership totaling more than 30,000
NATA

5. • 1881- James Robinson was hired by Harvard University as the first known athletic trainer
• 1918- Chuck Cramer (pictured) started the Cramer Chemical Company (now Cramer
Products)
– produced a line of products used by athletic trainers and began publishing a newsletter in 1932
entitled “The First Aider”
• 1972- Kristine Freeman was the first female athletic trainer at the University of Florida
– worked with the women's sports teams
– helped out a little with the men's athletic teams
– father worked for Cramer Products
Athletic Training Pioneers

6. • 1970s- a curriculum specific to athletic
trainers emerged
• 1982- Athletic training became a college
major
• William E. "Pinky" Newell
– seen by many as the "Father of Modern Athletic
Training“
– athletic trainer for the U.S. Olympic Team in 1980,
as well as the Summer Olympic Games
– One of the founders of NATA
– credited with changing the profession of athletic
training from a craft made up of dynamic
characters to an allied health profession that is
appreciated by the entire medical community
Development

7. • athletic training as a professional health
career first emerged in 1990
– American Medical Association deemed it an
“allied health profession”
• 2004- The only way a student can sit for
the national certification exam is if they
have graduated from an accredited
athletic training education program
– certification used to be based on a student
completing an internship
• Can now receive masters and doctorates
in athletic training
• As of 2008, 39% of athletic trainers work
in schools and universities
Modern Athletic Training

8. • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_training#History_of_Athletic
_Training
• http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/history-of-athletic-training--2
• http://www.nata.org/nata-history
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/270102-the-history-of-athletic-
training/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._%22Pinky%22_Newell
Sources