August 19, 2007

Keeping 1,000 Army athletes fit to play

By Ken McMillan

Times Herald-Record

West Point — Varsity coaches have anywhere from a dozen to almost 200 athletes to supervise on their respective teams at the U.S. Military Academy.

Athletic trainer Tim Kelly has all 1,000 athletes on his watch.

"Ultimately, I am responsible for all the cadet athletes here,'' said Kelly, 46, who has worked at West Point since 1987 and has been the head trainer since 1992. "It is challenging to try to meet the demands of the sport, and the practices and the games, and to make sure we're attentive to all the requirements that come with it.''

The job of a certified athletic trainer is to prevent injuries before they happen, and if they do occur, the task is to recognize, assess and treat the injuries. Establishing a course of rehabilitation is another major component.

Kelly can't pick out his specific reason for going into the training business but his interest was piqued in high school and he pursued those studies at the University of Iowa. He arrived on campus at the same time Hayden Fry was breathing life into the moribund football program — Iowa received berths in the Rose, Peach, Gator and Freedom bowls. "I hit it perfect, I guess,'' Kelly said.

Kelly earned his master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and worked internships with the Buffalo Bills. When an opening at West Point came about in 1987, Kelly knew he had to apply.

"My father had a small military background,'' he said, "and I've always respected individuals that choose this route, serving unselfishly, serving their country; at the same time ... playing sports for more of the correct reasons than considering the pros.''

Army has 10 athletic trainers, half of whom work closely with the football program and its 190 athletes for the better part of the school year. Each trainer is usually assigned to work with two teams per school year — Kelly still works football and ice hockey and used to work baseball as well. As head of his department, Kelly has plenty of administrative duties as well.

The most rewarding aspect of his job is watching the maturation of the cadet athletes over four years. Said Kelly: "You see them as scared freshmen, or plebes, and then by the time they reach the second semester of their senior year they are squared away. They have a sense of accomplishment, and they are ready for bigger and better things. You can virtually see the final product of what West Point can do for an individual.''

There is a great sense of satisfaction when you can get a cadet back on the playing field, and also a sense of frustration when you cannot, Kelly says.

"A big part of our job is getting to know the athletes, getting to know what makes them tick and pushing their buttons in order to motivate them and get them back out there as quickly and safely as possible,'' he said.

Does he love his job?

"Yes, I think you have to,'' Kelly said. "There's a lot of long hours, and it can put a lot of stress on you. There's a happy medium, the good with the bad.''

Who they are: Each trainer is usually assigned to work with two teams per school year. Half of Army's 10 trainers work with the football program and its 190 athletes for the better part of the school year.
When they work: Just about every day from the late summer through the end of the school year.

Where they work: Army training rooms in the Kimsey Athletic Center, various athletic fields at West Point and with teams on the road.

What they say: "It is nice to come to work and be appreciated, and know that our athletes get the big picture and will do what is expected of them when they have to interact with me due to an injury.'' - Army head trainer Tim Kelly

Been around since: There is a long tradition of athletic trainers at West Point, dating back to the early 20th century. Seven former staffers have been inducted into the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Hall of Fame: Frank Wandle (1962 inductee), Roland Logan (1971), Edward Pillings (1980), Adam Abramoski (1986), Cash Birdwell (1990), Dale Mildenberger (1994), Kent Falb (1999).

Movers and shakers: NATA inducts members into its Hall of Fame every year. The 2007 honorees include Tom Abdenour of the Golden State Warriors, former Temple and current New Jersey high school trainer Steve Bair, former West Virginia trainer Cynthia "Sam'' Booth and Cal State-Fullerton trainer Julie Max.

Membership: There are 10 certified athletic trainers on the West Point staff. NATA has more than 30,000 members, half of whom are women. NATA estimates more than 85 percent of all trainers belong to the organization.

Can anybody do it? Yes, provided the candidate attains a bachelor's or master's degree with a major in athletic training, and passes a board exam - the Board of Certification, Inc., nationally certifies athletic trainers. A total of 44 states, including New York, require licensing.

The big picture: The job of a trainer is to prevent injuries before they happen, and treat them once they occur. In 1990, the American Medical Association recognized certified athletic trainers as an allied health profession.

Get in touch: NATA is based in Dallas, Texas, and can be reached at (214) 637-6282 and www.NATA.org. It is a not-for-profit group that helps advance and improve the training profession.