Central wins Safe Sport school award

Last week, Central York High School was awarded a 1st Team recognition from the National Athletic Trainers Association for its priority to keep athletes safe. One of only four schools in the state to receive this award, Central earned the “Safe Sports School” award bringing with it national recognition, a banner, digital artwork and its name listed on the NATA consumer website.

“We are on the cutting edge of what is available to student athletes, and now we have research to back up what we do,” said Rick Guinan, drivers’ education teacher and certified athletic trainer.

This year, the NATA (National Athletic Trainers Association) created this award to promote safety for student athletes. Schools that applied were chosen based on set criteria, and were awarded 1st or 2nd Team recognition. According to the Safe Sports School instructions, “1st Team awards are given to schools that have acted on all recommended and required elements of a safe sports school.” On the other hand, 2nd Team awards“ are for schools that have completed only required elements.” The award lasts three years.

The application process was long and took months to complete. Rick Guinan, along with high school athletic director Marty Trimmer, athletic trainer Krysta Sensbach, and team physician Bob Burton were key players in getting the process going. Guinan says he first thought of applying for the award during the active shooter drill back in the beginning of the year. “Seeing the whole school district making a safety commitment made me believe that we should make more of a commitment in the athletic health care of our students.”

Requirements for being dubbed a “Safe Sports School” include having a comprehensive health care administrative system, providing and/or coordinating pre-participation physicals and promoting safe and appropriate facilities for practice and competition. Others include planning for proper selection, fit, function and maintenance of equipment, providing equipped areas to treat injuries, develop injury and illness prevention strategies, provide or facilitate injury prevention, create and rehearse emergency plans, provide psychosocial consultation and nutritional education and counseling, and educate athletes and their parents on the benefits/risks of playing their sport.

Changes were made to the school’s athletic program this year that prompted an application for the award. The athletic health care program, inside the classroom and out, was protocol driven, and used a lot more technology than in previous years. Medical records were converted into digital files, and physical examination forms will be changed over as well. This means no more physical packets athletes; everything will be online.

“It [the program] keeps the athletes participating in the sports they love and helps them achieve their goals,” said Guinan.

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