Athletic Training Program
What is the Athletic Training Program?
Seattle Children’s Athletic Training Program provides on-site licensed athletic trainers to schools and other organizations during practices, at home and away games and at other sporting events. Our athletic trainers provide coverage to 40 public and private schools across the Puget Sound area.
We are experienced working with athletes from a wide range of sports, including football, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics, wrestling, basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, golf, swimming, volleyball, cross country and roller derby.
Athletic trainers are part of sports medicine at Seattle Children’s. Sports medicine also involves:
What is an athletic trainer?
Athletic trainers work with kids, teens, coaches and parents to make sure young athletes are well prepared for activities, properly treated for injuries and can return to play safely and quickly. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued new guidelines for football that recommend having a athletic trainer on the sidelines during games and practices.
Services we provide:
- Immediate emergency care and treatment; including cervical spine stabilization and cardiac emergencies
- Evaluate return to play
- Injury prevention, assessment, care and rehabilitation
- Taping, weight training programs and review of medical releases
- Conditioning and flexibility training suggestions
- Education about sports safety and nutrition
- Sport-specific training and conditioning programs
- Referrals when medically necessary
All of Seattle Children’s athletic trainers:
- Hold degrees from accredited programs, have passed the board of certification exam for athletic trainers and have expertise working with young athletes. Learn more about athletic trainer certification and training.
- Design programs to meet the unique needs of young athletes. We recommend age-appropriate training, teach proper technique and use clear, understandable language to educate children about sports and related health issues.
- Are part of the Seattle Sports Concussion Program. We determine whether an athlete has a concussion and when they can safely return to play.
- Work to protect the best interest of the children they serve. Serving as liaisons between student-athletes, parents and their coaches, athletic trainers help ensure that the athletes' health comes first.
- Evaluate and care for injuries on site, provide information about at-home care, refer athletes and parents for additional care and follow up to check that athletes are recovering well.
Why choose Seattle Children’s Athletic Training Program?
Staying and getting back in the game
We pride ourselves on prevention and education. We teach coaches, parents and athletes sport-specific conditioning and flexibility, nutrition and ways to avoid injury and perform better and more safely throughout the season. In the event of an injury, our team works closely with the athlete, family and coaches to ensure a safe, yet swift recovery back to the field. Whether it’s ruling out a fracture or treating a sprain, our athletic trainers can help save athletes an unnecessary trip to the emergency room. We can also determine whether an athlete has a concussion and when they can safely return to play.
The largest, most experienced team in our region
Seattle Children’s Athletic Training Program offers the largest, most trusted team of pediatric-focused, Washington state Licensed Certified Athletic Trainers (ATs) in our region. Our athletic trainers provide coverage at more than 300 sporting events and conduct more than 33,500 assessments and over 80,000 treatments a year in the greater Puget Sound area.
We’re here for you when you need us
Seattle Children’s Athletic Training Program is part of the Sports Medicine Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Our Sports Medicine Program serves children and teens of all ages and abilities. We offer quick access to our providers at one of our three clinic locations in Seattle, Bellevue, Federal Way and Mill Creek and do not require a referral from a primary care physician.
Our Sports Medicine Program offers both surgical and nonsurgical treatments as needed, with services that include injury prevention, physical therapy, rehabilitation, imaging, complementary medical treatment and appropriate nutrition. We are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of acute and chronic sports injuries, including strains and sprains, concussions, neck and back pain, shoulder and arm programs, hip and knee pain, torn knee ligaments, meniscal tears, shin splints and fractures.
Athletic trainers’ outreach activities
Our athletic trainers take part in many community health fairs where they work with children and teens. They’re also available on a fee-for-service basis to cover a wide range of athletic events, including regional sporting events and at sports camps. The athletic trainers tailor their services to the specific needs of the participants at each of these events.
Medical coverage
For information about how our athletic trainers can provide medical coverage at your sporting events for kids and teens, please contact Lee Martin and Elizabeth Kakos at 206-987-2376 or by email.
Contact Us
To find out more about the Athletic Training Program, contact Lee Martin and Elizabeth Kakos in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department at 206-987-2376 or by email.