Following on from Part 1's focus on the club and coaching staff, here's some food for thought for the players. I truly believe you guys and girls have the biggest influence on your club sports trainers' experience. Here's a few little things to consider prior to the start of season 2019.
To the Players...
Use your manners
‘please’ ‘thank you’ & ‘no worries, I’ll wait’ are sometimes too rarely heard in a medical room. You would expect that in your workplace wouldn't you? Are you offering that to your team's trainers?
Yes, things can be time sensitive and important to get done, but that doesn’t mean respect and manners goes out the window. These people are here to help but there’s 20-30 of you and 1-3 of them, do the maths.
Things will take time.
Could the prep have been organised better? Could there be list? Could players get to games earlier?
Consider how the playing group can make the trainers day easier:
Pre-cut your tape
be happy with any trainer doing your tape or treatment
maybe learn to do the easy stuff yourself.
I’ve been a player and I’ve been the Trainer/Physio. Just try to put yourself in their shoes. If someone is new to the role, cut them some slack, don’t bad mouth their work to others and give them some extra time and reassurance.
You’re all in it together with the same goal. Keeping everyone safe and playing football, don’t create a 'us & them' culture.
Trainers & New grads aren’t experienced Sports Physios
Before I started at uni, I assumed that I could walk up to a trainer and ask them to assess, diagnose, manage and prognose (is that a word?) my issue.
Then I went to uni and completed my undergrad, and realised I still don’t know how to accurately assess a
muscle strain or give an accurate and informed prognosis. It is not your fault as players for not knowing this, it’s not really advertised anywhere... especially by the uni's.
That’s what they are there to do right? I just want you to be aware, your trainers have only started uni most times, and would be better placed to talk you through how a nerve depolarises (physiology subjects 😱) than how long until you can return to play.
Be okay with trainers not being sure, and respectfully ask who they would normally refer to for clinical assessment.
They are also going to make mistakes. Just like elite sports therapists do. You blaming them or putting more pressure on them for answers isn’t going to improve clinical outcomes. Unfortunately you aren’t at the highest level, so you don’t get elite level care at your games. You can make the most of the trainers and create a safe environment where they can assist in your care in anyway they can.
Create a Player driven culture of respect, humility & gratitude
It’s all about the players a lot of the time.
The staff are there for YOU, the admin staff volunteer to organise to put YOU on the park. The trainers are there to support YOU at training & game day.
Yes... that is kind of right, but you don’t have to act like the solar system revolves around you. Not having a go... most of you don't, but maybe your teammates do. Having this influential position in the club (and if your captain, even more so) you have the ability to drive culture and standards.
Make a point of creating a club culture that fosters respect of all players and staff, humility in the players and gratitude for what everyone does to make the club work.
Without any of these groups of people, there would be no club and no games on the weekend.
Due to the speed and intensity of match day, the worst of us is often brought to the surface, and often towards those closest (the coaches & trainers). Try your best to take a deep breath, maintain your cool & don't shoot the messenger.
On a slightly unrelated note, trainers are also not your slaves or cleaners. Put your own tape in the bin, pick up teammates who forgot and get your own ice or food if everyone is busy.
Volunteer your body... mind out the gutter people 👀
The trainers aren’t here just because they want to watch from 'the best seats in the house.' They are involved mainly to learn and gain experience in sports injury assessment and management for their future as health care practitioners.
So help them out with this every now and then. If you get to training early, and you hear or see a few trainers ‘talking shop’ as we do (ALL THE TIME!!), offer if they needed a body to practice on.
We are constantly told at uni ‘get your hands on as many different bodies as you can’ (we do hang out in our underware at uni all day), so offer them that chance to play with your joints.
They’ll appreciate it, and pay you back in crinkle free ankle taping 🙌.
Celebration & Inclusion
No I didn’t accidentally repeat myself, this is MORE important for the players. Cast your mind back to the whole ‘players being the centre of the universe thing.’
You are the best placed cub people to celebrate and include the trainers.
Learn their names, nicknames, what they study and their interests outside of the club. They are people too.
Medical room banter can win your premierships!
Banter is a great stress reliever before a big game and trainers can be 'a friend in the sheds' during a lonely rehab, so get involved. Just like any banter. No the line and don’t cross it, but make it fun and keep it light, it can make the whole place more fun to be around.
A few practical suggestions:
If the club is playing the chopper Reed 'no cash' card about paying for the trainer’s presentation night tickets, organise a ‘gofundme’ effort from the players to help pay.
Invite them to the ‘player driven functions’ that will mean so much more than an invite to a stale old ball from the club administrator (no offence club administrator).
As said above, celebrate the wins with them! Get them involved in celebrations, because they’ll be there for the highs but also the awkward silent change rooms when tape and boots are being thrown across the room.
To any players reading this, I hope you got something out of it. The take home message is that you have the most power to influence the experience of your club's sport trainers. If you can facilitate a positive experience in any small way, it will not go unnoticed and will benefit everyone & the club itself.
Best of luck for the upcoming season
Thanks for reading