High School Rules and Regulations Refresher for Athletic Trainers

The NCATA hosted a virtual Rules and Regulations Refresher to help high school athletic trainers prepare for the upcoming school year. During this session, participants reviewed current NCHSAA and NCISAA health and safety rules and regulations impacting secondary school athletic trainers, including concussion management, heat illness prevention, emergency action plans, environmental safety, medical coverage requirements, and other important topics for the upcoming school year. Practical best practices and implementation strategies were also discussed to support safe and compliant athletic healthcare in North Carolina secondary schools.

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If you were unable to attend, the presentation slides and a recording of the webinar are available HERE for your review and reference. In addition, please review the 26-27 Rules Refresher Meeting PDF.

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Promoting the Profession: NCATA PR Committee Highlights

May 2026: North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association, Athletic Directors & Sports Medicine Conference

Dr. Katie Hanes-Romano presented A Tale of Two Hearts, a presentation on Preparing for Cardiac Emergencies. The presentation looked at contrasting outcomes of two separate sudden cardiac arrest incidents based on personnel, practice, and equipment.

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Nina Walker helped Athletic Directors identify ways to hire and retain licensed athletic trainers.

 

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March 2025: In person presentation at the North Carolina Career Development Association annual conference- The Role and Pathway of Athletic Training in Career Counseling. This session emphasized how career advisors can introduce students to the diverse opportunities within the field of athletic training.

 

In person presentation at the North Carolina Athletic Director’s Association Annual Conference: Policy, Procedure, and Practice: Keeping your athletes safe and your school out of the courtroom

 

In person presentation at the North Carolina Health Occupation Students of American State Leadership Conference- Management of the Spine Injured Athlete. This talk covered the basics of spine boarding and equipment removal of the athlete with a suspected spine injury, and students gained hands-on practice using various spine-boarding techniques.

 

Athletic Trainers Honored at NC Courage Home Opener for National Athletic Training Month

On March 22, 2025 during the NC Courage home opener, Wake County Public Schools’ Certified Athletic Trainers were recognized for their dedication and commitment to student-athlete health and safety. As part of National Athletic Training Month (NATM), the halftime ceremony celebrated these healthcare professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to provide injury prevention, emergency care, treatment, and rehabilitation.

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Adding to the night’s recognition of athletic trainers, Brandi Schwane, athletic trainer for UNC Women’s Soccer, performed the opening coin toss in honor of NATM. Schwane’s presence was especially fitting, as UNC Women’s Soccer recently secured the 2024 National Championship, further showcasing the impact of dedicated sports medicine professionals in collegiate athletics.

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With this year’s NATM theme, “Champions in Healthcare,” the recognition highlighted the vital role athletic trainers play in keeping student-athletes safe and performing at their best. The NC Courage crowd showed their appreciation with a resounding ovation as these unsung heroes took center stage.

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February 2025: Live presentation to Wake County Public School Career Development Coordinators: Exploring Careers in Athletic Training: Opportunities, Education, and Professional Pathways. 

 

December 2024: Live Webinar for Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA): Exploring Careers in Athletic Training: Opportunities, Education, and Professional Pathways. This session provided valuable insights into the profession and was recorded for future use by IECA members to help them advise students interested in the career of athletic training. 

 

November 2024: Live presentation at the North Carolina School Board Association annual conference: Policy, Procedure, & Practice: Keeping Your Athletes Safe While Keeping Your School Out of the Courtroom.” Attendees gained insights into aligning school practices with North Carolina Board of Education (NCBOE) and North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) guidelines. The session also provided tools to critically assess district schools' adherence to established policies and procedures. Additionally, participants explored strategies for collaborating with Athletic Directors (ADs), Athletic Trainers (ATs), and First Responders (FRs) to enhance safety protocols and compliance measures.