Starting this school year, middle school student-athletes at Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) will have access to professional athletic training. The new middle school athletic trainer position will help foster a safe, supportive environment for student-athletes by administering expert training and medical care at home athletic contests and practices. The athletic trainer will float between Linkhorne, Dunbar, and Sandusky middle schools, providing services to both LCS and visiting student-athletes as well as acting as a liaison between parents, coaches, and physicians.
The position will be funded through the innovATE project, a $3 million collaborative program funded through the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) at the University of Connecticut by the Education Fund as part of the National Football League Concussion Litigation. The mission of innovATE is to increase access to medical care provided by athletic trainers for secondary school athletes in underserved communities. Through funding, advocacy, education, mentorship, and strategic support, innovATE partners with school divisions in conjunction with local medical care providers.
“The innovATe project was established to help increase access to athletic training services in the secondary school setting. Middle school athletes who are developing physically and cognitively need access to the medical care an athletic trainer can provide as much as collegiate and professional athletes, if not more,” said Christianne Eason, KSI President of Sport Safety and innovATE project director.
The addition of the athletic trainer position will make middle school sports safer, protecting student-athletes from injury while enhancing overall athletic performance. Equipped with the resources and experience necessary to succeed in middle school, student-athletes will enter high school ready to seamlessly and safely adapt to high levels of professionalism, competition, and athletic achievement.
“The safety of our student-athletes is our top priority at Lynchburg City Schools. Athletic trainers play a pivotal role in the holistic care of student-athletes,” said E. C. Glass High School Head Athletic Trainer Jen Armstrong. “The addition of the middle school athletic trainer position will promote the well-being of our student-athletes, helping them succeed both in sports and in the classroom.”
This is an 11-month, non-teaching position. Applicants must have a current Virginia athletic training license and a Board of Certification (BOC) certification. Learn more and apply here.