Athletic trainers contribute to success both on and off the field by keeping student athletes safe.
At ETSU, Caitlyn Harter serves as the head athletic trainer. She primarily works with the football team and directs the men and women’s track & field and cross-country programs.
She completed her undergraduate degree at Truman State University, majoring in athletic training. From 2018 to 2020, she worked to receive a master’s degree in sport management at ETSU.
Harter has been around the game of football for most of her life, and she understands how physical the game can be. Maintaining player safety is a top priority for herself and the football staff.
“For every practice, we have three athletic trainers working, and then we have a variety of student workers,” said Harter.
ETSU’s athletic training program employs multiple trainers to assist with each sport so there is a focus on each player’s safety. There are four athletic trainers that oversee two to three sports each, followed by an intern and several graduate assistants.
Communication is key for Harter and her colleagues.
“We’re all mic’d up during practice and games. We are in constant communication regardless, even if I’m dedicated to defense that day and I see something on offense. It comes down to player communication, knowing your players, knowing if they have any medical conditions, and having a relationship with the players where they feel comfortable having that rapport with you so that it can be taken seriously,” shared Harter.
Injured athletes are put on an injury report and have to show up to practices up to an hour early for taping and medical attention.
“There’s a lot of moving parts, but my job is to make sure all those parts are turning in synchronization,” said Harter.
In addition to athletic trainers, team physicians in the ETSU Health BucSports Medicine clinic and the Ballad Health Athletic Center attend practices and games.
