ORIENTATION

1. All Athletes must report injuries when they occur. Not reporting injuries in a timely manner may result in improper care and a delay or non-payment of medical bills. You have 24 hours (or as soon as feasibly possible) to report an injury to the trainer. If you let it go thinking it will just go away, you may impede the healing process and delay your return to participation. Also, the insurance company can deny your claim if you do not accurately report an injury.

2. All athletes must sign-in and check the services they are receiving. This helps us to keep track of who we are seeing and what services are being rendered to keep the coaches informed of your rehab attendance. Athletes receiving treatment/rehab of an injury must file a daily treatment journal. This will help keep the coach informed of what you are doing to speed your recovery. 

3. Athletes are permitted and encouraged to come for ice and/or heat when necessary. Understand you will be asked why you need ice or heat. We do not want anyone keeping injuries secret from the athletic training staff. If an athlete is staying in the training room for ice, please use the gel back from the freezer instead of wasting a plastic bag and flex-wrap. 

4. Any athlete who reports a new injury must be evaluated and complete an injury report. This is for insurance and legal purposes, as well as an accurate assessment of the injury for proper care. If all information is documented, there will be no delay of insurance payments. 

5. An athlete will be relieved of his/her training room responsibilities when their status is a full go. Once the athletic trainer establishes you no longer have a need for the training room you may participate without restrictions. If the athlete has not been cleared, but is not attending therapy, they will not be permitted to compete in an upcoming event.

6. Athletes are permitted and encouraged to continue using the athletic training room facilities for maintenance after they have established a full go status. If you have been cleared, you are encouraged to continue to use the training room to prevent or lessen the possibility of re-injury.

7. All athletes will maintain a file for a minimum of five years post athletic participation that will include all pre-participation information, injury and rehab information, doctor’s releases, and any other prevalent information pertaining to the medical status of that athlete.  

8. Athletes are not permitted to wear their cleats in the training room. Cleats can mark up the floor or tear any carpet. Also, cleats will make an athlete slip and fall.

9. No shoes of any kind are permitted on the treatment tables. Shoes tend to destroy the upholstery of the tables.

10. Athletes are not permitted to eat or drink in the training room. During the past, athletes have left food and drinks in the training room leading to ants! Also, please keep socializing in the training room to a minimum. Too many athletes in the training room at one time cause a disruption in the operation of the training room.

11. No sunflower seeds are permitted in the training room. Seeds are difficult to clean!

12. Please do not take food or drinks from the refrigerator. It is not yours, plain and simple.

13. Athletes are not permitted to use the telephone without the express permission of the athletic trainer. This is a business phone and the lines cannot be occupied by unnecessary conversations. You may have permission to phone for transportation home or a medical emergency.

14. Athletes are not allowed to take anything from the training room without the express permission of the athletic trainer. Any equipment must be signed for and returned. It took a very long period of time to receive the current equipment in the training room. Let’s keep it that way! If an athlete signs for any equipment and does not return it by the date specified, a hold will be placed on the athlete's transcripts.

15. Athletes are NOT permitted to receive over-the-counter medications prior to practice or competition unless advised by a doctor in writing. When an athlete is given over-the-counter medication the quantity and dosage must be documented. Athletic trainers cannot diagnose injuries. They can only SUSPECT what the injury is. Therefore, special tests must be performed to determine what the problem might be. Some of these tests will require the athlete to have pain. If the athlete has taken medication that suppresses pain, this special test may appear negative, giving false information to the athletic trainer and increasing the severity of the current problem.

16. Spatting is prohibited. You must understand that spatting is discouraged for the following reasons:  

a) Increased possibility of a syndesmotic or “high” ankle sprains, 

b) Increased possibility of knee injury including, but not limited to the ACL, meniscus, or collateral ligaments, 

c) Increased instability of the ankle joint and

d) Reduced traction by lessening the length of the cleat making the athlete more susceptible to falls and injuries.

East Los Angeles College realizes that spatting is widespread in the NFL and at Division I schools, unfortunately we do not have the resources of upper level athletics and therefore must forbid spatting. You must also understand that you have been fully informed about the consequences of spatting, and if you are spatted during competition or practice and are injured, the insurance company reserves the right to deny coverage. Spatting does have some advantages. However, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. The only explanation an athlete has given for their reasoning behind spatting is “It looks good!” This is not a good enough reason to increase an athlete’s risk of injury. 

17. Colored or tinted visors are not permitted

18. Injured athletes must do rehab before they are taped. Taping is definitely a benefit for injury prevention, however, taping is a secondary precaution. Strength of a structure is better to prevent injuries! Non-injured athlete’s wishing to be taped for the sole purpose of additional support must complete a specified warm-up before taping.

19. NO GAME DAY TAPING! You have a far greater chance of experiencing an injuring during practice than in competition. Therefore, if you feel no need to be taped at practice, there is no need for taping during competition. Taping must be done at home prior to leaving for an away event. No taping at the host site unless prior arrangements are made. 

20. Profanity is not permitted in the training room. This includes the "N" word and we don't mean Nintendo. It is understood that certain sports tend to use profanity more than other sports. However, a certain level of courtesy and professionalism must be maintained. Please, be considerate of other persons in the training room. 

21. Jewelry and body piercings are prohibited. Although the rules do change and may be different between the NCAA, COA, and the individual colleges, ELAC has elected to prohibit the wearing of jewelry or any piercings. Jewelry and piercings can create unnecessary injuries and if you are wearing jewelry or body piercings during competition or practice and are injured, the insurance company reserves the right to deny coverage. 

22. Athletes must shower and maintain proper hygiene when receiving treatment. This helps to keep the rehabilitation equipment cleaned and sanitized for all the athletes. I also cannot believe that this has to be a rule, but you will be surprised! 

23. Athletes must dress appropriately for therapy (athletic shoes, shorts, t-shirt/tank top). Athletes will actually be doing exercises and must be dressed appropriately. If an athlete is receiving an evaluation the injured area must be exposed.

24. Do not take water bottles for personal use. They are strictly for the use of athletic competition. Water bottles have a tendency to be accidentally liberated. This leaves few bottles for athletic events. Also, do not put your mouths on the water bottles or take the cap off and drink directly from the bottle. This spreads germs. These are community bottles and if one athlete is sick, all the athletes will be sick.

25. Coaches will receive a coaches’ report indicating the limitations of each athlete. During drills, plays, conditioning, etc., the injured athlete will engage in an activity within his/her limitations.

26. All athletes must attend practice! No rehab during practice hours. Practice time is reserved for just that.....PRACTICE. If an injury requires immediate medical attention, call the athletic trainer immediately for assistance. However, if the athlete can walk, talk, and does not require immediate assistance, the athlete should remain at practice. If you have a problem, do not just go to the athletic trainer. Speak with the coach, limit your activity to what you can do and then seek assistance after practice or during the indicated hours. There is no rehab during practice time, subject to the discretion of the athletic trainer. Athletes cannot by-pass practice for therapy. This is not to deter athletes from seeking athletic training services, but it eliminates athletes from not participating in practice. Some athletes like to see the trainer for every little bump and bruise. This is perfectly acceptable. However, each athlete will be given explicit instructions and appointment times for therapy. If any athlete fails to comply with any instructions or fails to show up for their therapy appointment, they will not be cleared for the next competition.

27. In many cases, an athlete may have to play with pain. As long as an athlete has a full range of motion, full strength, and is functional, he/she can play! Pain should not be a factor.

28. Ineligible athletes, gray-shirts, and out-of-season athletes do not have access to athletic training services, equipment, supplies, and insurance. However, basic first aid is always provided. Any additional care will be provided by the student health center, provided you are enrolled in the athletic class.

29. If you are a red-shirt athlete, you must identify yourself as such. Each athlete is entitled to one red-shirt year. If you do not inform the athletic trainer you may lose that red-shirt year. You must also be on the official roster of your sport listed as a red-shirt. Sometimes a coach decides to red-shirt an athlete at the end of the year. Please make sure the athletic trainer is informed at the end of the season.

30. Ineligible athletes are not covered under the same policies as an eligible athlete. Failing to inform the athletic trainer of any ineligibility will result in the athlete assuming all financial responsibility for one’s injury.

31. The athletic training staff is not liable for any illness, non-sport related injury, or injury resulting from an athlete’s negligence or defiance of a coaches or athletic trainer’s recommendation. Any athlete going to a physician without a referral from an athletic trainer must present a signed release from that physician before he/she can return to play. Even if the injury is non-sport related. 

32. Athletes must travel with their team to all events. Any athlete wishing to make alternative travel arrangements must have all the necessary paperwork completed at least one day before the event in question.

33. Athletic training services will end 30 minutes prior to the starting time (whether it be practice or the time the coach indicates an athlete must be ready for competition), 30 minutes after practice ends, or 30 minutes prior to the closing of the training room. Any late arrivals will not receive treatment or taping. The only exceptions will be arrangements made prior with the athletic trainer and the coach. This will ensure all athletes will be on time for practice. The training room will not be used as an excuse for an athlete’s tardiness.

34. All training room rules will be strictly enforced. Not following the rules of the training room may result in non-participation.