Club sports fail to merit athletic trainers
Kristy Chiano and members of the women's club lacrosse team worry about not having athletic trainers at games and practices.
Chiano, a Swartz Creek senior, said the athletes get injured often because of the sport's physical nature.
"People get checked in the head, get taken out and get the wind knocked out of them," she said. "It's kind of irritating that we don't have anyone around (to help)."
Most club sports at Central Michigan University do not have direct access to athletic trainers, in stark contrast to the intercollegiate sports teams that interact with trainers on a daily basis.
Club sports can be just as physical as any other sport, but CMU does not have the resources to offer trainers to them, said Jen Nottingham, associate director of athletic programming.
CMU has four full-time certified athletic trainers, one part-time certified athletic trainer and five certified graduate assistants, said head athletic trainer John Mason.
Athletics Director Dave Heeeke said the athletic trainers provide services to at least 400 athletes already.
"There's just not enough time in the day or enough bodies in our staff," he said. "It would be nearly impossible."
Chiano said some athletes from the women's lacrosse team have been turned away by trainers at the Indoor Athletic Complex because they were part of a club sport.
When the team needs ankles wrapped, they just relied on each other, Chiano said.
An exception
Men's lacrosse is one club sport that must have athletic trainers present at its games because of a mandate by the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association.
Brad Thomas, a South Lyon senior and coach for the men's club lacrosse team, said it is important for preventative measures.
"At the end of the day, (club sport players) are giving 100 percent at their sport," Thomas said. "They are no less competitive."
Nottingham said she would love to see an athletic trainer at every game, but it's all about the cost.
Club sports are a separate entity of the university, so it comes down to a funding issue, she said.
"(But) whenever you deal with a contact sport, there needs to be a trainer," Nottingham said.
Heeke said CMU pays a total of $191,408 a year for the five certified athletic trainers.
Nationwide, many club sports don't have athletic trainer, but their presence is starting to be recognized more, Nottingham said.
The next best option
Even though club sports do not have athletic trainers on a daily basis, they have access to University Recreation employees who are certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, Mason said.
"The university does a good job at (being prepared)," he said. "There are people close by to handle an emergency situation."
But it's a time issue, Thomas said.
If it ends up being a life or death situation, having a trainer there is crucial, he said. He sees lacrosse players take hard hits and get the wind knocked out of them all the time.
"It's good to have someone there," Thomas said.
Carrie McGillis, coordinator of the Injury Care Center, offers another option to athletes.
Located in the lower level of the Student Activity Center, the Injury Care Center offers free services for students with sports injuries or questions, McGillis said.
"It's beneficial to general population of athletes and club athletes to use this resource," she said. "The best four-letter word for students is 'free'."
The only downfall is that club sports usually practice in the intramural fields or the IAC.
"We don't have direct access to them," McGillis said. "With the competitiveness, it is important prevention wise (to have a trainer there).
McGillis said she sees the standards shifting to see athletic trainers being involved in the future.
"Once people see the need a little more, they will realize the need for (trainers) to be there," McGillis said.
Chiano said she thinks the university is willing to consider having athletic trainers for club sports, but right now it is not a high priority.
The Injury Care Center is open from 4 to 11 p.m. in the spring semester and from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the fall semester.
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