LMHS Awarded NATA Safe Sports School Award
Representatives from UnityPoint Health present Linn-Mar representatives with the 2017-2020 Safe Sports Award. Pictured (left to right) are: Denise Walker, Dr. Thomas Richmann, and Carol Schueller from Unity Point-St Lukes and Athletic Trainers Marissa Yorgey, Vince Klopfenstein, Superintendent Quintin Shepherd and Athletic Director David Brown from the Linn-Mar Community School District.
Linn-Mar High School has been honored with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award. Linn-Mar is the only 4/5A school in Iowa and one of only a few schools in the eastern half of the state to earn this designation. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes. The award also reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment. School officials worked with certified athletic trainers from UnityPoint Health® (St. Luke’s Hospital) to receive this designation.
The award presentation took place during half-time, Friday, Aug. 25 at the Linn-Mar vs. Iowa City High football game.
“Linn-Mar is honored to receive this recognition from NATA. The school is committed to keeping our student athletes safe during team practices and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship and good health,” said Athletics Director David Brown. “Our goal is to lead our athletics program to the highest safety standards for our players,” Brown added.
“We remain committed to the health and welfare of young athletes in competitive sports,” says NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC. “This award recognizes the contributions and commitment of schools across the country that are implementing safe sports policies and best practices to ensure athletes can do what they love best and have the appropriate care in place to prevent, manage and treat injuries should they occur.”
In order to achieve Safe Sport School status, as Linn-Mar 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 of the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities
- For more information please visit: www.athletictrainers.org.
UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital certified athletic trainers work Linn-Mar and other athletes from local school districts, youth athletic programs and semi-professional sports organizations to help ensure they develop good strengthening and training habits to prevent injury and treat injuries, and if injuries occur, they are treated appropriately.