Certified Athletic Trainers

CHKD’s sports medicine program has more than 50 certified athletic trainers (ATC) who provide medical coverage for sporting events and practices at the middle and high schools in the Chesapeake and Virginia Beach public school systems.

Our ATCs are also assigned to provide medical coverage for sporting events that take place at the Virginia Beach Field House and the Virginia Sportsplex, so you can rest assured that your child will be taken care of while practicing in a camp or athletic event at those facilities.

What is a certified athletic trainer (ATC)?

A certified athletic trainer is an allied health professional who has earned a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited athletic training program at the college or university level and has passed the national Board of Certification exam.

In addition, many athletic trainers complete a master's degree in either athletic training or a related discipline such as exercise science, exercise physiology, secondary education or health and wellness. In order to use the ATC credential professionally in the state of Virginia, an individual must be licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine, just like physicians, pharmacists, and physical therapists.

What does an ATC do?

The ATCs employed by CHKD work in the interscholastic athletics setting. Their focus is primarily on athletes playing middle school and high school sports. Each day, the ATCs provide the following services:

• Injury evaluation and diagnosis
• Design and implementation of rehabilitation programs
• Practice and event coverage for VHSL recognized sports
• Emergency management of severe injuries
• Maintain documentation of athletic injuries
• Pre-practice and game taping and bracing
• Coordinate with parents, physicians, and physical therapists to carry out an athlete's plan of care for a wide variety of athletic injuries
• Work cooperatively with coaches and athletic department staff to ensure safe playing conditions for all athletes
• Assist student-athletes and parents in determining when they need to see their primary care physician or a sports medicine specialist, providing referrals as needed
• Work to promote healthy lifestyle choices and assist student-athletes in locating educational resources to improve health literacy

In addition, CHKD's ATCs play a key role in a student-athlete's concussion management team by monitoring athletes on a daily basis and acting as the liaison between physicians, teachers, and coaches during the recovery process. You can read more about CHKD's concussion management program and the Chesapeake Public School's concussion policy. 

Community Involvement

The athletic trainers at CHKD also support the Hampton Roads community by providing medical coverage for local athletic events. If you or your child has participated in the CHKD RunWalk for the Kids, Girls on the Run 5k, Challenger Baseball World Festival, SkatePark Event, Paul Webb Basketballs Camps or the Chesapeake Sheriff's football camp, then you have probably met a CHKD athletic trainer.