ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM PROCEDURES
Summary Key Points
The following are the summary key point to changes in the athletic training room:
- The athletic training room will have a student-athlete capacity limit to accommodate social distancing.
- Rehab sessions will operate on an appointment only format, and student-athletes may only enter the athletic training room for rehab.
- Pre-practice treatments (heat pack, theragun, cupping, etc.) are eliminated.
- There will be a set time for which student-athletes may receive pre-practice taping.
- Post-practice treatment will be eliminated. Ice bags will be placed in teams’ locker rooms.
- Student-Athletes will be required to wear masks in the athletic training room.
- Visiting teams may not enter the athletic training room. Chowan athletic trainers will provide pre-game modalities outside of the visiting locker room that they may use.
ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM CAPACITY
The following restrictions will be enforced for all athletic training facilities on Chowan University’s campus:
Maximum capacities have been established to limit the possible spread of infection while student-athletes and coaches are in the athletic health care facilities. The maximums that are listed below were determined based on the optimal student-athlete/ athletic trainer ratio (3:1) given the current space available in the facilities.
The capacity for each athletic training room is as follows (not including athletic trainers or student interns):
Hawks Athletic Center: 10 student-athletes
Pond Center: 6 student-athletes
Vincent Center: 2 student-athletes
TREATMENT AND REHAB
Student-athletes will be instructed to use an appointment system for scheduling treatments with an athletic trainer. Appointments will be available and scheduled through ATS and student-athletes are responsible for setting up and attending their scheduled sessions.
These limits are to be followed for the entirety of the daily operation hours. Appointments will be used for the morning and early afternoon. Pre-practice taping will be first come, first serve and will operate on a one-in/one-out basis.
Any student-athlete that is found to not adhere to these restrictions will be asked to leave for the day.
Rehab Appointments
All the student athletes have easy access to the ATS portal and it allows for them to schedule times that the athletic training staff sets at the different ATR locations while also following HIPAA.
How the athletes request appointment times:
- Log into the Chowan ATS portal
- Click Request Appointment icon on the screen
- They can go to the day of the week and they are able to see all the opening with each athletic trainer and where they will be located
- They are also able to but a filter if they want to see their assigned athletic trainer
- They select the time slot they want and they can leave a note and then they hit sent request
- They are able to continue to request appointments for that week and have to do each time individually.
- The requests are sent to the respective staff member
Pre-Practice Treatments and Taping
In order to reduce contact in the athletic training room, all pre-practice treatments, such as electrical stimulation, the use of heat packs, Theragun/Hypervolt, cupping, etc., will be eliminated. These treatments are generally referred to as “feel-good” treatments and are not necessary for the athlete to be able to function. Student-athletes may only use the athletic training room to complete rehab, for which they must create an appointment. The student-athlete may use modalities or manual therapy only if the athletic trainer deems it a necessary part of their rehab protocol.
To limit the number or people in the athletic training room, there will be a specified time-block for student-athletes to receive taping before practice. The taping stations will be dispersed throughout and between the Hawks Center, Vincent Center, and Pond Center athletic training rooms. Social distancing guidelines and cleaning guidelines will be followed between each person.
Post Practice Treatments
There will be no traditional post practice treatments. Ice will be placed outside of the Hawks Athletic Center Athletic Training Room, in the hallway. Athletes that utilize the Vincent Center (i.e. M/W soccer, M/W Lacrosse) will be able to get ice from the ice machine that is located in the Vincent Center. Ice bags will be prepared and be placed by the door in the Pond Center for football athletes.
Athletes will only be allowed in the athletic training room post-practice for emergent evaluations of injuries that occurred during practice that day or for emergent wound care.
If there is something that an athlete needs to discuss or see an athletic trainer for, they are asked to text/call their athletic trainer or set up an appointment using ATS.
