Traverse City Area Public Schools is pleased to announce that Central High School is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award for its Trojan Athletic Program. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. The award recognizes schools that prioritize keeping young athletes safe and reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment. In addition to this year’s NATA award, Amy Ream, Central High School’s athletic trainer, was also named the Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society in 2019.

In order to achieve Safe Sports School status, 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 about the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities

To apply, schools complete an in-depth questionnaire that assesses adherence to best practice standards and recommendations. For more information about the Safe Sports School Award, please visit www.athletictrainers.org.