Medical Question

[FalconWrestling 147]

If somebody is medically cleared to wrestle by 2 certified physicians but the School's Athletic Trainer refuses to clear the wrestler, who has jurisdiction?

[kyrunna 0]

schools trainer better get your doc  to talk to him or her

[steve145 0]

If that doesn't work, I think you can draft some kind of leagal document that says you as the Parent don't place blame, and will now sue the schools if anything happens.  Not sure if this will work still, but a friend of mine had the doctor saying no, but still worked it out this way a while back.

[CoachK 2]

I would find it hard to believe that a medical trainer for a school would have an override compared to a doctor.  A trainer can't determine that an athlete is not allowed to wrestle in a meet, only a doctor can do that so I don't see how in a non-meet that they can do that. 

[Mortal 0]

I would find it hard to believe that a medical trainer for a school would have an override compared to a doctor.  A trainer can't determine that an athlete is not allowed to wrestle in a meet, only a doctor can do that so I don't see how in a non-meet that they can do that. 

I completely agree.

[Dutch1873 0]

A trainer can't determine that an athlete is not allowed to wrestle in a meet, only a doctor can do that so I don't see how in a non-meet that they can do that. 

I've been a certified athletic trainer for nine years with experience at the D1, D2 and high school level and have worked with individual professional athletes. I and all the other certified athletic trainers are completely qualified to determine the medical abillity of an athlete to compete. That is what we are trained to do and it is our job. I won't comment on this particular question though because I don't know all the facts. Suffice to say I have overruled a doctor before. It won't happen often, but once in a while an odd situation will occur and I have to act in the best interest of the athlete.

[CoachJ 0]

Ok, let me say first that I am a Certified Athletic Trainer.  Coach J is my better half and I am using his account to answer this question.

Ok that said, there are some things that need to mentioned here.  I don't know the specifics of the original post but I seriously doubt that a ATC would recommend non participation without a valid reason.  The welfare of the athlete is ALWAYS the goal of the ATC.  ATCs can make return to participation decisions especially in a acute injury situation.  

Because this could be a situation where a specialist (orthopedic surgeon, neurologist, etc) has stated that the athlete cant participate and the ATC knows that.  Until the specialist releases the athlete, the athlete cant participate.  

If no specialist is involved and two physicians clear the individual that releases the school and trainer from liability as long as the parents agree with the participation in writing.  ATCs are not at the schools to keep kids from participating.  They are there to keep them safe.

[tiltfor3 20]

I believe that certified trainers will become more and more involved with all aspects of high school sports. The liability is just too great. Many feel that had PRP had a trainer on site, their football coach and school would not be in the mess they're in now and a child would not be dead.

[The Bear 0]

I'd listen to the trainer because he's specialized with athletes. I find this funny because most of the time we would ask our trainer something and he'd be like suck it up as to the doctor at the hospital would tell us I'd wait two weeks before I'd wrestle.

[Ranger123 43]

I would expect them to get on the phone and coordinate their answer.  If 2 MDs say the kid is good, the trainer must have a pretty good reason for saying no.  So I think the trainer should at least pick up the phone and have a discussion with one of the docs about what he/she is seeing that is resulting in the kid not being able to compete.

[FalconWrestling 147]

We were practicing when Tre Such injured his elbow wrestling Jared Smith. Usually he would just walk off and let the pain go away but we actually had a coach in that day and he called in the trainer. The trainer first told him that it was a ligament strain and he didn't believe it was a fracture. But told Tre to get x-rays on the elbow. Tre got 3 and it was determined by the 2 physicians that there was no fracture. Tre had full mobility of his elbow with no pain. But when he told the Trainer all this the trainer told him that he now believes it to be a fracture and that he needs an X-ray of the other elbow before he will clear him.

[wrestlewatcher 3]

I see the conflict here, but think about the trainer's situation.  You have football coaches being indicted for murder in this state  (VERY unfortunate and sad case).........if the trainer has any reservation at all about an athlete being able to compete, he/she is almost required to err on the side of caution.