They wait patiently on the sidelines, watching. It’s pouring rain outside and the field is soaking wet. As the football game is in full swing they stand by, hoping no one gets hurt. You see them at games, sports events, and so many other things. They are the trainer team.
“I’m really good at helping people. I’m great at being a mom and babying people,” senior trainer Brittany Brown said. “I really love doing it.”
Trainers are taught to do taping. This is the process of applying tape directly to the skin in order to maintain a stable position of bones and muscles during athletic activity. This reduces pain and aids recovery. Taping is usually used to help recover from overuse and other injuries. Other things trainers do include setting up for the upcoming events such as soccer games, powerlifting meets, and football games.
“We do everything. We set up at games then we tear down,” Brown said. “We’re there in the rain, shine, cold, hot.”
Along with the job comes a personal relationship with everyone on the team, for both boys’ and girls’ teams. The long hours spent during practices and games leads to a strong bond between trainer and athlete.
“My favorite part is building a relationship with the teams,” Brown said. “When I help out the soccer team, they aren’t the soccer team to me. They’re some of my best friends.”