Job Description and Responsibilities

The role of the student athletic trainer is to assist Notre Dame Staff Athletic Trainers and Notre Dame Team Physicians with the health care of all Notre Dame student athletes. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Assisting with pre and post practice and game health care; Utilize, under supervision, the various therapy and rehabilitation modalities used in the department; Assist with set-up and break-down of practice and game sites with regard to hydration and medical supplies on the field; Assist with transportation of emergency and non emergency related injuries to various medical facilities; Maintain cleanliness, hygienic and sterile environment of the Athletic Training Department; Some limited travel with teams for away contests; Assist with other departmental tasks as deemed necessary by staff athletic trainers.

Expectations of the Student Athletic Trainer

• Able to work and be flexible to adapt to varying work schedules as necessary
• Competent in all phases of the student athletic trainer program
• Must have a good work ethic and represent themselves, the Sports Medicine Department and the University of Notre Dame in a professional and positive manner
• Strict confidentiality of all aspects of the Athletic Department must be maintained at all times
• Adhere to all NCAA rules and regulations
  
  

Time Commitment

As a volunteer student athletic trainer (first year of service) an average of 8-12 hours per week in the fall is the norm for attending in-services, Sports Medicine Department work shifts and game coverage. The spring semester may increase to 10-14 hours per week. If selected to a paid full status student athletic trainer (second - fourth years of service) the hours will average 16-20 hours in the fall and 12-16 in the spring. Students must be available to work afternoons, evenings, weekends and some university holidays. Students must be able to return to campus in early August for pre-season football camp (for paid full status student athletic trainers only).

Structure of the Volunteer Program

The first semester of volunteering is concentrated on learning the general athletic training room operations and becoming familiar with basic organization and day to day procedures. Also included:

• learn and practice basic taping techniques, basic first aid and basic injury care
• learn and practice basic therapeutic modality set-up, applications and operation
• assist with limited sports coverage

After volunteering and meeting competency requirements, a select few will be offered paid full status student athletic trainer positions.

Selection Process

Decisions to hire paid full status student athletic trainers are based on assessment of the volunteers by the entire Notre Dame Sports Medicine Staff. The following criteria are taken heavily into consideration for the selection process:

• attendance at scheduled work shifts and in-services
• punctuality
• completion of competency testing
• enthusiasm
• motivation
• initiative
• dedication
• ability to work with other students and staff members
• meet minimum standard academic requirements similar to those of student athletes
  
  

Benefits

Students selected to the paid full status student athletic trainer program will receive a stipend for the year. The student will receive a direct deposit notice every two weeks. Students will also receive a check for the month of August for working pre-season football. Seniors will have access to four tickets to each home football game. A generous supply of ADIDAS sportswear is also included for the students. A student athletic trainer will also receive free books each semester. Students will also be eligible for two monitory awards. One is a partial scholarship to a senior prior to last year of service. The second is a $500 post-graduate award given to a senior. Any student in the paid full status student athletic trainer program who, after volunteering one year and working three years, will be eligible to be awarded a service monogram. This would include receiving a letterman's jacket and being eligible for all National Monogram Club benefits after graduation.

What the Program is

The program should be considered a job and thus treated as such. This program is an excellent opportunity for students to receive financial benefits while being involved with Notre Dame Athletics. An extra benefit is to those students pursuing a degree in medicine in that unique opportunities to spend one on one time with area physicians is available.

What the Program is Not

The program is not an accredited curriculum to allow students to pursue athletic training as a career or to meet National Athletic Training Association standards for becoming a certified athletic trainer. It is not a social club that commitment or attendance to work is optional. It is not a short-cut to events or to simply befriend athletes.
Interested? Please contact Mike Bean at mbean@nd.edu. Please see our contact page for more information.