By: Rafael Lopez, MS, LAT, ATC
“Throughout my career, athletic trainers have had a big impact in preventing injury. (It’s important) for athletic trainers to really get across the importance of doing the preventative things: the exercises, the rest, the ice, the stretching. But also from a standpoint of once the injury takes place, making sure you’re doing the necessary steps to get back in peak condition, which is very hard because most athletes want to jump from a to z, and you have to do all the little necessary things first.”
– Kobe Bryant
From Yakima, Washington to the Pros
My journey to becoming an Athletic Trainer for Phoenix Rising didn’t follow a straight line, and honestly, it found me. I’m originally from Yakima, Washington, and I’ve always been passionate about sports, especially football. I walked on at Eastern Washington, but eligibility issues ended that chapter sooner than I had hoped. I wasn’t ready to leave the world of sports, so to stay connected to the game and with my teammates, I decided to pursue an undergrad in exercise science with the goal of becoming an athletic trainer.
After earning my degree, I headed to graduate school at the University of Utah, where I really refined my skills. Eventually, that path led me to do an immersionship with ASU, which turned into a full-time role post-graduation as the Head Athletic Trainer for the ASU Women’s Soccer Team for two seasons. My goal has been to transition from the collegiate level to the pros, which was the start of my journey with the Phoenix Rising, where I now work as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. Transitioning from working with collegiate women’s athletes to professional men’s soccer was a huge change. Everything is heightened at the professional level, including the time commitment. But I’ve learned to adapt to the challenges, and I’m grateful for the growth it’s allowed me in my career.
A Week in the Life of an Athletic Trainer
A typical week as an athletic trainer is a whirlwind, especially during pre-season and the regular season. These are the busiest times, with A LOT of travel involved. When you’re on the road, you have to learn the art of balancing work responsibilities while still taking care of yourself, because the athletes are counting on you to show up as your best self each day! But the real heart of our work happens during the week, as we prepare for the big game on Saturday. I like to think of it as “Game, minus five,” because everything we do in the week is building up to and preparing for that one day.
Game Minus Five- Practice Prep
I’m usually one of the first to arrive on practice days, around 7 a.m., with players coming in at 7:30. I spend that first half hour setting up for practice—coolers, water bottles, rehab stations—so everything’s ready when the players walk in. We split the players up so we can see everyone who needs treatment before practice starts at 9:45.
Treatments can include soft tissue work, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation, depending on what each player needs. We also work closely with physical therapists from Spooner who come in three times a week, focusing on the players who need extra care.
Practice and Rehab
Once practice starts, I’m on the field, always on alert for injuries. Right now, the team is pretty healthy, (knock on wood), but there are always a few players doing rehab on the side. I work with them to build them back up alongside the strength and conditioning coach, who also helps get them back into game shape.
Being an athletic trainer requires a lot of flexibility. Just this week, we had an athlete who got cleated in the head and needed stitches. I wrapped it up quickly so he could finish out practice, then he went to the doctor after to get it properly treated. It’s just another day on the job, and that’s something I’ve gotten used to.
We’re strategic about everything, even down to when the players get water breaks and the amount they get. Our strength coach is big on science, so every detail is calculated and intentional to maximize the players’ performance and recovery.
Game Day
As we get closer to game day, the work ramps up. Saturdays are intense. I usually arrive at the stadium about four hours before the game to begin preparations. We set up the field, arrange medical stations, and get the locker rooms ready for both the home and visiting teams. Two hours before the game kicks off, we start taping and treating players to make sure they’re ready to go.
Once the game starts, we’re treating but also watching closely. The sideline is buzzing with activity, from taping fingers to evaluations. I think that is what is especially important about athletic trainers is since we see the players so often, we are the ones who can notice when a player is just a bit off and adjust to prevent injury. We’re there to make sure the players can focus on playing, while we handle everything else.
After the game ends, the work isn’t done just yet. There’s a quick cleanup and an assessment of any injuries, which can take another two hours, plus treatment again. When we’re on the road, we still provide care at the hotel as well, so the job never really ends. It is a lot of work, but incredibly rewarding to see all different kinds of people from different parts of the world and from different cultures come together with one common goal, to win a championship! (Our goal this year as a team is to win all 5 trophies, so our work is just beginning!)
What Makes The Busy Schedule Worth It Is…
The people! One of the things I love most about being an athletic trainer is the relationships we build with the athletes. We spend so much time with them, sometimes more than they spend with their families, so it’s important to build trust. It’s not just about helping them when they are hurt, it’s about supporting them as people. I always try to ask how they’re doing beyond just their injuries. Because to me, they are people first players second, so I want them to know we are here to support them. I know how important it is to them to succeed in their careers, and I am grateful to do it alongside such an amazing team.
Spooner is proud to be a partner of the Phoenix Rising, and wish them success on their upcoming season!
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References:
- Kobe Bryant interviewed about ATS. NATA. (2016, December 6). https://www.nata.org/nata-now/articles/2016/12/kobe-bryant-interviewed-about-ats