Methodist University - Student-Athlete and Athletic Training Policy

Student-Athlete and Athletic Training Policy

Four Year Letter winner, Academic All-American Student-Athlete & Athletic Training Student Jill Hartman works on another four year letter winner and Athletic Training Student, Christina Gipson

Students enrolled in the Athletic Training Program are permitted to participate in intercollegiate athletics. However, students enrolled in the Athletic Training Program are permitted to play a single sport.

The student must be available for clinical experiences in the athletic training room for 15 (one semester) or more weeks during the academic year. This is to provide students with adequate learning opportunities and experiences for the development of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. During the course of each academic year, students will be required to plan for at least 50 hours each semester and a total of 300 hours for their clinical education annually. Students that do not participate in athletics will have the opportunity for additional clinical educational experiences. The completion of the clinical experiences may be achieved in either of the following manners:

1. The student is available for their sport during the traditional season semester and academic requirements during the other. For example, a fall sport athlete (football, soccer, volleyball,…) will participate in their sport during its traditional fall season. During the spring semester, the student would be responsible for clinical education requirements with minimal involvement in their sport.

2. Those students with seasons that overlap both semesters (basketball,…)
must be available to work in the athletic training room prior to their season in the fall and after their season in the spring. The time must total 15 weeks. The student must submit in writing, a schedule of when they will be available in the athletic training room for the year. The schedule must be provided to the Program Director, Head Athletic Trainer, and their respective head coach prior to the start of the fall semester.

3 Students will not be asked to provide athletic training services to the athletic team for which they compete.

The Athletic Department is asked to be sensitive to the academic and clinical requirements of a student enrolled in the Athletic Training Program. We recognize the coaches’ responsibility to provide programs that lead to successful athletic experiences. The coaches also recognize the need to provide the student with the academic and experiential background for a successful life-long career. The Athletic Training Program feels that by following the above requirements the student-athlete can meet the minimum standards of the Athletic Training Program.

The Athletic Training Program also recognizes that non student-athletes may gain some additional experiences that a student-athlete would not but that the student-athlete can and will fulfill the didactic and clinical requirements of the program.

Department of Athletic Training