Each school year, student athletes and parents have questions about rules and regulations regarding Pelham High School athletics. The information on this page is provided to act as a quick source of information to some of the more common questions that arise. If you have any additional questions or need any further information, please contact the Athletic Director.
What is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC)?
ATCs are health care professionals who work closely with physicians. Commonly called athletic trainers or ATs, they provide services such as injury prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries. To become an ATC you must hold a 4 year degree from an accredited program, pass a certifying exam and be licensed in the state they provide services in. They are also required to maintain their certification by completing 75 continuing education units every 3 years. ATCs are specialized to deal with athletes and provide an important service, not only in the acute care of injuries, but in the safe return of athletes to their sport.
Want to know more about ATC's?
Doctor's Notes
Any time a student is seen for an illness or injury, they require a clearance note from that medical professional in order to return to their sport. Note that illness is included. Regardless of now small the issue is, we CAN NOT allow a student athlete to participate in sports without WRITTEN clearance from a medical professional. This also has to be the same medical professional that initially saw the athlete.
Example: if an Orthopedic was seen and recommended time off, the athlete cannot then go to their primary care physician to be cleared to participate. Reason being, the primary care physician did not see the initial injury, and therefore, cannot understand the injury as well as the person who saw it right away. This ensures that the athlete is treated properly and is only allowed to return to play with he/she safely can!
Why can't my son/daughter play if a doctor cleared them?
The Athletic Trainer has the final say for athletes returning to play. While a doctors note may be necessary sometimes, this note is not a golden ticket back into play. For some injuries the clearance note from the doctor simply gives the go ahead to start having the athlete perform some level of exercise. Every situation is unique, but it is important to understand that the goal is ALWAYS to get the athlete back into play ASAP. This needs to be done safely, however. These situations will always be talked about with the parent/guardian, athlete and Athletic Trainer to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Concussion Protocol
All athletes with a suspected concussion must go through the Return to Play Protocol (RTP). Current guidelines say that an athlete should be taken out of play if they have trauma to the head and have symptoms that last longer than 10-15 minutes. If this happens, the athlete will be evaluated by the Athletic Trainer and appropriate actions will be taken. Pelham and Northeast Rehab takes pride in knowing that the concussion RTP is current and cutting edge. Once in this protocol there is NO way to SPEED UP the process. More information on the actual process can be found in the "Concussion and Athletics" section.
Doctor Referrals
When necessary, an athlete that is injured may need to see a specialist. If the Athletic Trainer thinks that it is necessary, they will contact the athlete's parents/guardians with their thoughts/recommendation. Seeing this specialist is not only the safest, but the fastest way to get the athlete back safely. While each injury is unique, a prompt referral will always make sure the athlete gets back as soon as possible.
