Who do athletic trainers work with?

Athletic trainers work with athletes, coaches, and injury rehabilitation specialists. Here is a closer look at the variety of professionals and organizations that an athletic trainer works with:

• Athletes. Athletic trainers work directly with athletes to help them with physical concerns and to increase their overall athletic performances with activities like exercises, drills, goal-setting, and visualization techniques. Athletic trainers may work with professional sports teams, college teams, or other sports-related organizations.
• Coaches. Athletic trainers keep coaches informed regarding their athletes' progress toward any goals or physical breakthroughs. An athletic trainer might also assist a coach in improving their communication and leadership skills, and help them craft various exercises and drills for their athletes.
• Injury rehabilitation specialists. Athletic trainers tend to work alongside injury rehab specialists, such as physical therapists, sports team doctors, and others that provide athlete care. When coordinating with these professionals, an athletic trainer focuses on the wellness and improved performance of the athletes or teams they work for.