Windham High School receives National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School Award for the second time.

Windham High School (WHS) is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment.

“Windham High School is honored to receive this recognition from NATA, for the second time.” said Casey Sinclair, Athletic Trainer.  “We remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during team practices and games, so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship, and good health. Our goal is to lead our athletics program to the highest safety standards for our players.”

This award shows how important it is to have an athletic trainer in every high school. According to Korey Stringer Institute, in the state of Maine only 92 out of 147 high school have an athletic trainer, with only 53 schools having a full-time athletic trainer. Windham is one of the few schools that has a full-time athletic trainer. Casey has been at Windham high school for 13 years. Casey graduated from the University of New England with a bachelor’s in athletic training and Secondary Education. Casey is responsible for over 700 athletes that participate in the 28 sports offered at WHS, across three tiers of competition (varsity, junior varsity and first team). So far this year she has completed over 400 evaluations and 2400 treatments. These evaluations range from concussion, strain/sprain, fractures, blister/wound care, heat illness, cold/flu and mental health conditions. Casey is also the liaison between the student athletes, parents, coaches, school nurse, doctors, administrations, guidance/social workers and teachers. 

In order to achieve Safe Sports School status, the athletic programs must achieve 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.

Do not forget March is National Athletic Training Month!