A grant from the Seattle Seahawks and NFL Foundation will allow the Foster High School to better serve its student-athletes.
The $50,000 grant awarded to the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Seattle Children’s and its Athletic Trainers program will provide expanded coverage of certified athletic trainers during sporting events and activities for in the Renton and Tukwila school districts.
“Athletic Trainers play a key role in preventing, diagnosing and managing injuries,” Sam Ramsden, Seahawks director of Player Health and Performance, said in a media release. “This grant enables the certified athletic trainers to spend 200 additional hours at the schools which will provide more consistent coverage and help ensure the health and safety of the athletes.”
Launched in 2008, Seattle Children’s Licensed Certified Athletic Trainers helps athletes develop strength and flexibility to perform better and more safely throughout the season. Athletic trainers are skilled in the prevention, assessment, treatment and evaluation of both immediate and ongoing sports-related injuries.
“The Tukwila School District is very grateful to the NFL and Seahawks for providing this grant that will greatly benefit our student athletes,” Harvard Jones, Tukwila School District athletic director, said. “Our athletic trainer Geniqua Harris, provided by Seattle Children’s Hospital, is a great resource for our student athletes, and the additional hours will allow her more time to work with them to prevent and manage injuries.”
A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that the presence of athletic trainers resulted in lower overall injury rates, improved diagnosis and return-to-play decisions for concussion and other injuries, and fewer recurrent injuries for student athletes. However, nearly two-thirds of high schools lack a full-time athletic trainer and almost thirty-percent do not have access to any athletic training services.
