When we have an athlete on our massage table we are part of a team. There is the team that takes the field or competes in events together however there are a lot more people on the team than you may realize. Today I am going to go over the possible team members we should all be aware of.

Here is a list of Team Members (not in any order of priority)

  • Parents
  • Teammates
  • Coaching Staff
  • Team Physicians
  • Athletic Training Staff
  • Massage Therapists

Depending on the age of the athlete, the sport they play and the level they compete at the team members will differ. For instance; the 12 year old gymnast that is brought in by their mom may only have the parent, a coach and teammates whereas the D1 college player may have all the team members.

Parents

As a Parent of an athlete you are also part of the team. You have raised this athlete. You feed them, care for them and support them. You know them better than anyone else. (teenagers may argue this). You have a right to know who all these other people are. You need to know who to report to if you are concerned. It would also be helpful if they gave you a list of things they would like you to report such as; nausea, dizziness, headaches, bruises etc. The list could be a little different in some sports. Here is a terrific link for parents of competitive athletes; http://www.safekids.org/assets/docs/safety-basics/sports/2012-sports.pdf Now read on to see who some of the other team members are.

Teammates

Teammates are part of every athlete’s support system. Even sports that seem individual such as Discus or Tennis will have other teammates. Teammates are usually friends and some become very close, they support each other, challenge each other and work together to achieve common goals.

Coaching Staff

Sometimes there is just one Coach for a whole team and there can also be a Head Coach and Assistant Coaches. Their main concern is the athlete; preparing them, helping them improve their skills and utilizing them. They also want to win so there are all kinds of strategies, planning and supervising that they are in charge of. Coaches also have to follow the rules, engage with the administration or club and/or body that oversees the sport.

Team Physicians

Team Physicians are usually involved and responsible for preseason screenings, event presence and coverage, diagnose injuries or illness and prescribe rehabilitation and or treatment. A wide variety of Physicians serve as team physicians, here are the most common;

  • Family Practice
  • Pediatrician
  • Orthopedist
  • Physiatrist

 Athletic Training Staff

Athletic Trainers are Nationally Certified Allied Health Professionals.  They are not personal trainers.  They should be a member of The National Athletic Trainers Association http://www.nata.org/ . Athletic Trainers are trained in; Prevention, Evaluation/Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation of injuries.  If your child or family member is participating in a competitive sport at the high school or college level they should have a Certified Athletic Trainer on their healthcare team. If they don’t, you need to ask why. Go here to learn more about this important issue. http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/youth-sports-safety-team-approach-needed-says-nata

Massage Therapists

Having Massage Therapists as part of the Health Care Team is somewhat new. Athletes have been utilizing massage therapy for many years. It was only in the 1990’s that D1 college teams began utilizing massage therapists. Most Massage Therapists are contract, few are actual employees. They may be asked to work with the athletes in the training room or off site in their own offices. Parents of athletes or adult athletes commonly find a one or more Massage Therapists to work with them privately. One thing that is crucial for people to understand is that these athletes have very little free time. So it is usually best to have a number of Massage Therapists (a team) to be able to work with the athletes at an appointed time that works out best in their schedule. Massage Therapists who not only have the skills and experience but, are conveniently located and have flexible scheduling. Massage Therapist also may just be working with one athlete on a team or only the ones that are injured. Who the Massage Therapists work with is usually the decision of the Coach or Athletic Trainer.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania all Massage Therapist must be licensed. So please ask to see your Massage Therapist’s license. If they can’t show you their license, just leave. Really if they cannot get licensed or have the intelligence to keep it handy they do not deserve your patronage.

So please go meet the team members that work with your athlete. Or if you are an adult athlete ask your coach or team mates who they would recommend.

So please click here to schedule an appointment soon. We will be out of town October 1st – 7th attending the American Massage Therapy Association National Convention in Raleigh, NC.