What is an ATC?
The Certified Athletic Trainer is a highly educated and skilled professional specializing in athletic health care. In cooperation with physicians and other allied health personnel, the athletic trainer functions as an integral member of the athletic health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs and other athletic health care settings.
Education
Certified athletic trainers have, at minimum, a bachelor's degree, usually in athletic training, health, physical education or exercise science. In addition, athletic trainers study human anatomy, human physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, athletic training, nutrition and psychology/counseling. Certified athletic trainers also participate in extensive clinical affiliations with athletic teams under appropriate supervision.
Certification
Certified athletic trainers have fulfilled the requirements for certification established by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification, Inc. (NATABOC). The certification examination administered by NATABOC consists of a written portion with multiple choice questions; a practical section that evaluates the psychomotor skill components of the domains within athletic training; and a written simulation test, consisting of athletic training related situations designed to approximate real-life decision making. This last portion of the test evaluates athletic trainers' ability to resolve cases similar to those they might encounter in actual practice. The examination covers a variety of topics within the six domains of athletic training:
- Prevention of athletic injuries
- Recognition, evaluation and immediate care of athletic injuries
- Rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries
- Health care administration
- Professional development and responsibility
Once athletic trainers pass the certification examination proving skills and knowledge within each of the five domains, they use the designation "ATC."
Delaney Farmer, ATC/L
Delaney received his B.S Degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Athletic Training from Washington State University, a D-1 Institution.
Graduated in December 2007 and became Board Certified in April 2008.
Currently Delaney works as the Athletic Trainer for Lake Washington High School; Maintaining the every day opperations with working with all the after school sports programs. During the 2010 season of the Seattle Sounders, Delaney acted as the Team Massage Therapist as well as one of the Assistant Athletic Trainers. Prior to the Sounders, Delaney worked with Sammamish High School (Bellevue School District) as their school Athletic Trainer. During the 2009 summer, Delaney was the Athletic Trainer for the Seattle Wolves soccer club, a team representing the PDL - West Division. The PDL is a Premier Developmental League that is within the USL (United Soccer League) organization. The Wolves PDL team showcased college athletes from Stanford, UCLA, UW and several other colleges within the United States.
Delaney undertook an Athletic Training internship with the WNBA Seattle Storm Women's Basketball Team during the 2009 summer. The opportunity to experience these types of athletes has been very rewarding, personally and professionally.
Other Athletic Training Events invovled with over the years:
- 2011 Lake Washington High School Athletic Trainer - Lake Washington School District
- 2010 Seattle Sounders MLS Assistant Athletic Trainer
- 2010 High School Cross Country Camp
- 2008-10 Athletic Trainer for Sammamish High School - Bellevue School District
- 2009 Intern Athletic Trainer for the WNBA Seattle Storm
- 2009 Athletic Trainer for the Seattle Wolves Soccer Club (USL-PDL Division)
- 2009 Washington Games - COPA Soccer Tournament
- 2009 DiskNW Seattle Youth Ultimate Frisbee Camp
- 2009 Washington Games - Basketball Tournament
- 2009 DiscNW Seattle Youth Utimate Frisbee Camp
- 2008 Copa Soccer Academy Tournament - Starfire
- 2008 Washington Games - Basketball Tournament
