Samuel Bilik: The Profession Of Athletic Training

Athletic Training goes way back to the 20th century in the Olympic Games. Football had become a national sport in the United States. With all the rough play, hard hits, and concussions, everyone knows how violent the sport can be. “The 1950s brought about the National Athletic Trainers Association, which included trainers from Japan, Canada, and the United States (“NATA History”). Approximately 200 trainers participated in the first meeting that was in Kansas City. The purpose was to discuss how to build on this profession. This was needed to serve players of all sports as there will always be competition, which means there will always be injuries. Finally in 1990, Athletic Training was considered a health profession. “Samuel “Doc” Bilik was one of the earliest medical doctors to devote his time to athletic

Bilik also manufactured a line of athletic training supplies. He was an early recipient of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Citation Award.” (“Athletic Training Timeline”). Now everywhere there is an athlete, there is a trainer in the area. Trainers are in most schools, and universities. Most of the time, they are the first source when a player gets hurt or injured. Without trainers there would be a lot of untreated injuries, and less athletes, but there is a certain level of education and skill required for this job.

First and foremost, one should at least have some type of interest for athletic training. This really goes for any job or career, if there is no appeal to a job, then there also won’t be any full commitment. With that being said, trainers should consider if this is the career they will stay devoted to. For starters, people cannot just come straight out of high school and apply at the “Athletic Trainer’s Department of Athletic Trainers,” especially when there’s no such thing. The first