What is a Certified Athletic
Trainer (ATC)?
Every year thousands of students participate in interscholastic
athletics. Unfortunately, many of them also suffer injuries as
a result of their participation.
A certified athletic trainer (ATC) is an educated and skilled
allied healthcare professional specializing in athletic injuries,
specifically in the following domains:
- Prevention of athletic injuries
- Recognition, evaluation, and
immediate care of athletic injuries
- Rehabilitation and reconditioning
of athletic injuries
- Healthcare administration
- Professional development
In an effort to treat injuries more effectively, certified athletic
trainers work as part of a complete health care team that consists
of a licensed physician, other healthcare professionals, athletic
administrators, coaches, and parents.
Athletic trainers are certified by the National Athletic Trainers
Association Board of Certification (NATABOC). They must earn a
degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum and pass
a three part test administered by the BOC. They are also required
to stay current in the advancements in athletic training by obtaining
continuing education credits.
OrthoArkansas Athletic
Trainers
Tom Cantwell, ATC, LAT
Director
When Tom was playing high school sports, he had no one to help him
recover from his injuries. Once he learned of the field of
athletic training, a career choice was made.
Tom says his interactions with students over the past 20-plus
years have reinforced his choice. “Seeing the athlete
return to his or her sports more quickly than he or she would
without an athletic trainer is very satisfying. I’ve
always enjoyed working with student athletes and their parents,” he
says.
He is a founding member, past president, and member of the Hall
of Fame of the Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association. His
work with the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association
and National Athletic Trainers’ Association is also widely
recognized.
Tom received a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis
in Athletic Training from Southwest Texas State University. He
enjoys spending time with family and raises Missouri Foxtrotter
horses as well as Border Collies.
 Traci Byrd, ATC, LAT, CSCS
It wasn’t a sports injury but the opportunity to attend
a workshop for student athletic trainers that confirmed Traci’s
decision about her life’s work.
“In high school, my head coach asked me to attend a student
athletic trainer workshop,” Traci says. “I knew
then that the combination of sports and medicine was what I wanted
to do. Athletic training is the perfect job for me.”
After high school, Traci attended Arkansas State University, receiving
her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. She has been
an athletic trainer since 1997 and currently works at Central Arkansas
Christian School.
“The interaction with my athletes on a daily basis is my
favorite part of being an athletic trainer. I enjoy following
an injury from the time it occurs to the moment the athlete returns
to participation. Also, being a friend and mentor to high
school athletes is a rewarding aspect of the job.”
Among Traci’s leisure time activities are golfing and spending
time with family and friends.
Jason Cates, ATC, LAT
Jason came to the field of athletic training by accident – literally.
“I decided to become an athletic trainer after I had a motorcycle
wreck just after my senior year of high school,” he said. “I
did my rehab with a certified athletic trainer and that turned
me on to the profession.”
Jason earned his Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training at Arkansas
State University and accepted his first job as an athletic trainer
in 1997. He currently works with the athletes at Jacksonville
High School.
“Working with high school athletes can be a rewarding experience,” he
says. “Unlike working with professional and college athletes,
high school athletes have the desire to please. After an injury,
high school athletes are sometimes over-eager to return to the
field of play. Athletes, in general, are self-motivated people
and are easy to work with.”
Jason is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association
(NATA), the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association (SWATA),
and the Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association (AATA), and
serves on the Secondary Schools Committee for all three organizations. He
also is a member of the Executive Committee of the AATA as an At-Large
Delegate to SWATA.
He enjoys fishing, hunting, playing golf, and spending time with
his wife, Stacy, and their three children.
 Jim Clark, PTA, ATC
Jim’s life-long love of sports and an interest in orthopedics
drew him into athletic training as a career. Working with
young people is a bonus, he says.
“I love students’ energy and youthful approach to
life,” he says. “It is rewarding, as well, being able
to educate young athletes and rehab their injuries. I also like
being able to help with their preseason strength and conditioning.”
Jim is currently the athletic trainer at Bigelow High School and
is a Physical Therapy Assistant with OrthoArkansas.
An athletic trainer since 1993, Jim earned a Bachelor of Science
in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Athletic Training and was the
first student in UCA’s Department of Kinesiology Athletic
Training Education Program to receive an athletic trainer certification
(ATC). He also received an Associate of Applied Science Degree
from Delta College. Jim is currently working toward his Certified
Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification through the
National Strength and Conditioning Association.
He is active in the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,
the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas
Athletic Trainers’ Association. Jim served 12 years
in the Arkansas Army National Guard and was honorably discharged
in 2005 with the rank of Sergeant. He had tours of
duty in Honduras, Panama, and Iraq.
In his spare time, Jim enjoys weightlifting, jogging, hunting,
fishing, and watching his two young sons play sports.
 Christa Finney, MS, ATC, LAT
Trips to the athletic training room as an injured athlete brought
Christa back to the profession on the other side of the treatment
table.
“I was injured as a college athlete and spent some time
in the athletic training room,” she says. “Seeing
what the profession could do for athletes eventually led me back
into the field of athletic training from speech-language pathology. I
have never regretted the decision.”
She has been an athletic trainer since 1998 and enjoys interacting
with students at Bryant High School and Middle School. “I
love their energy and how they can make you laugh even on the hardest
day. Helping them through the physical as well as mental
aspect of an injury, being a friend and mentor, and making a difference
in their lives is especially important to me.”
Christa said it was rewarding to see one athlete return to play
after a particularly hard rehab and score three touchdowns in one
game.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from
Ouachita Baptist University and a Master of Science in Kinesiology/Athletic
Training from the University of Central Arkansas. Christa
is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,
the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas
Athletic Trainers’ Association. She serves on the Public
Relations Committee and the Arkansas High School All-Star Committee
of the AATA. She is also an American Heart Association BLS
certified instructor.
Christa’s hobbies include travel, outdoor sports and activities,
spending time with family and friends, and working out at a local
fitness center where she is a cardio-kickboxing instructor and
personal trainer.
 Richard
Green, M.Ed., ATC, LAT, CSCS
Richard says he can’t imagine a more rewarding career than
being part of Arkansas high school athletics.
“Being around students keeps you young. It is enjoyable
seeing students develop into young adults and helping an injured
athlete recover and return to his or her sport,” Richard
says.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Human Performance and Biology
and a Master of Education in Exercise Physiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation
from the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
When he is not working with the athletes at Little Rock Catholic
High School, Richard spends time with his wife, Kristy, and his
son Carson. He also enjoys cycling, running, and playing
golf.
He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through
the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a member
of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Southwest
Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas Athletic
Trainers’ Association.
 Heath Lamb, MS, ATC, LAT
Working with and helping young people reach their goals is a dream
Heath has had since childhood. That dream led to a career
in athletic training and to OrthoArkansas, where he is assigned
to Sheridan High School and Middle School.
“I have always enjoyed the medical aspect of sports,” Heath
says, “and always through it would be interesting to combine
that with working with kids. I enjoy helping them when they
get hurt and getting them back on the field or court.”
After completing his Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
at Arkansas State University and Master of Science in Exercise
Science at Middle Tennessee State University, Heath entered the
field as a professional athletic trainer in 2001.
He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,
the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas
Athletic Trainers’ Association.
In his leisure time, he enjoys church work, reading, and spending
time with family.
Tara McDaniel, ATC, LAT
A love of sports and an interest in orthopedics made athletic
training a natural choice for Tara.
“I love studying how the body works, especially from an
orthopedic aspect, and I love sports. Athletic training gives
me an opportunity to combine the two and, at the same time, help
young athletes grow and mature through sports,” she says.
Pursuit of her goal of being an athletic trainer took Tara to
Arkansas State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science
in Athletic Training. She has been an athletic trainer since
2005 and currently works with student athletes at Episcopal Collegiate
School.
“I like to see students grow and mature, not only as athletes,
but as people. It always feels wonderful when an athlete
that has been injured and working with you is able to return to
play. It feels great to play such an important role in these
students’ lives,” she says.
Tara’s leisure time is spent with family, friends, and her
dog Izabelle. She also likes to ride motorcycles with her
boyfriend.
She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,
the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas
Athletic Trainers’ Association. She serves on the Legislative
Committee of the AATA and is a recipient of the Cambridge Who’s
Who Award.
Amber Watford, ATC, LAT
A desire to help athletes manage and cope with injuries on and
off the field attracted Amber to the field of athletic training. She
says she can’t imagine being in another career.
“I look forward every day to being at Bauxite High School
and to interacting with the athletes there,” she says. “It
is very rewarding to help a student athlete recover and get back
on the field.”
Amber attended Chattahochee Valley Community College and received
her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University
of West Alabama. An athletic trainer since, 1998, she is a member
of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Southwest
Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas Athletic
Trainers’ Association.
In her spare time, Amber enjoys photography and scrapbooking. Her
husband, Buck, is also an athletic trainer. They have a daughter,
Gracie.
 Buck
Watford, MS, ATC, LAT
During his days as a high school and college athlete, Buck Watford
realized the importance of athletic trainers to a winning sports
team.
“As an athlete, I saw first-hand how important athletic
trainers are and the specialized skills that an athletic trainer
possesses. Not only does a good ATC help with the physical
side of an injury, he or she can be a big help in dealing with
the mental aspects of not being able to play,” Buck says.
In addition to his work at Benton High School and Glen Rose High
School, he is the Rodeo Sports Medicine Program Director at OrthoArkansas. He
earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from the Barry
University in Miami and his Master of Science degree from the University
of West Alabama.
Buck is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,
the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas
Athletic Trainers’ Association. He is also a Justin
Boots Rodeo Sports Medicine Associate Athletic Trainer, a medical
director for the American Indian National Finals Rodeo, and an
instructor in the Athletic Training Education Program at Ouachita
Baptist University.
He and his wife, Amber, who is also an athletic trainer, have
a daughter, Gracie. Buck’s hobbies include water skiing,
leatherwork, and training horses.
|
