Proctor Academy is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award for its Athletic Training program. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment.

“Proctor Academy is honored to receive this 1st Team recognition from NATA for our efforts to provide the best Athletic Training care possible,” said Kelly Griffin-Brown, MS, N.H.L.A.T., ATC. “We are fully committed to keeping our student athletes safe, whether it be during team practices and games, or afternoon activity participation. Our goal is to provide the highest standard of care so that our students can accomplish their own goals of great competition, excellent performance, fair sportsmanship, and physical fitness. We are incredibly grateful to NATA District One for providing both the funding and support through the application process. We are overjoyed by this award and will continue to maintain the highest standards of care for our student population.”

“The health and safety of student athletes is critical as it has both immediate and long-term effects,” said NATA President Kathy Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC. “The National Athletic Trainers’ Association created the ‘Safe Sports School Award’ to recognize and champion schools nationwide that are committed to safety in sports. We are proud to see the list of award recipients grow exponentially each year as schools see the immense value in holding themselves to best practices and policies that ensure a high standard of athlete care.”

In order to achieve Safe Sports School status, as Proctor did, athletic programs must do the following:

• Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
• Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations
• Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities
• Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment
• Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes
• Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions
• Provide or facilitate injury intervention
• Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
• Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education
• Be sure athletes and parents are educated about the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities

To apply, schools complete an in-depth questionnaire that assesses adherence to best practice standards and recommendations. For more information about the Safe Sports School Award, please visit www.athletictrainers.org. Congratulations to Proctor’s Athletic Training Team and Kelly Griffin-Brown for leading the charge on this certification. 

About NATA: National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport

Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports more than 40,000 members of the athletic training profession. For more information, visit www.nata.org. At Your Own Risk is NATA’s public awareness campaign designed to educate, provide resources and equip the public to act and advocate for safety in work, life, and sport. In an effort to provide comprehensive information, the association has launched a website that provides recommendations on keeping student athletes and communities active and employees safe on the job. Visit AtYourOwnRisk.org.