Michigan State University Athletic Training Duties 2006 Thomas J. Mackowiak, PhD, ATC Men s Basketball 12 month, 24 hours a day, health care oversight and supervision. Planning and implementation of pre-participation physical examinations with physician consultation and diagnostic follow-ups. Supervision, interpretation, design, and implementation of individual physical examinations involving functional testing, symmetrical body alignment, firing patterns, and aggressive recommendations for past or future injury patterns. Under the direction and recommendations of the team physician, planning, preparation, and supervision of in and off-season drug testing programs. Planning and implementation of pre, in, and post season medical speakers. Speakers may vary from functional flexibility experts, nutritional consultants, exercise physiologists, etc. Planning and overseeing of pre, in, and post physiological VO2 testing. Daily injury evaluation and triage of health care issues and situations. Daily individual therapeutic modality design for chronic and/or acute injury management situations. Daily communication with various health care professionals and consultants. Continuous, aggressive planning and communication on health care needs, decisions, and recommendations for return to play. Aggressive communication and research based decisions following discussions with outside health care consultants (NBA, NCAA institutional basketball athletic trainers, national health care consultants, internet reviews, and journal reviews). Daily communication with men s basketball coaching staffs, director of basketball of operations, video director, secretaries, strength and conditioning staff, and student managers. Weekly meetings with team physician and head men s basketball coach for injury discussions and improved communication systems. Maintenance and implementation of daily health care SIMS records. Records are completed daily for individual SOAP notes, therapeutic treatments, and activity calendar. Pre-practice taping, wrapping, therapy, and rehabilitation programs. Pre practice coverage on the average ranges from 1:45 pm until 2:45 pm prepractice. Practice ranges from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm daily with post practice flexibility, treatments, strength training, media, on-site training table, and/or films. Training room on the average closes between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm depending on films, late night individual workouts, time of year, and/or health care needs. Weekly in-season work hours average between 65-80 hours per week. On-site working lunch hours are conducted in-season for player availability. 1
Post season coverage of men s basketball activities. Coverage ranges from being present and assisting in supervision of strength training sessions, individual workouts with men s basketball team members, and evening open gym sessions. Communication with strength and conditioning staff for pre, in, and post season strength training and conditioning programs. Design and implementation of in-season conditioning workout programs. Planning, communication, implementation, and supervision of home game (night before game: Kellogg Center) hotel stays. Coverage begins at pre-game film sessions, late night check-in, treatments, and monitoring and supervision of snack/fluid replacement. Films are conducted from 9:30pm - 10:00 pm with hotel check-in from approximately 10:00 pm until 11:30 pm, 14-20 x s per year. Supervision, communication, and availability of visiting team day before game practice. Availability sells MSU on professionalism, openness, and personal assistance of MBB program and athletic medicine program. Set-up of visiting team locker rooms. Travel to and from all road basketball games. Administer to all health care needs, hotel catering needs, and travel needs as determined by situation. Design of pre and in-season implementation of individual injury rehabilitation programs. Implementation and supervision of treatment sessions may be offered multiple times throughout the day per head coach s philosophy. Due to the men s basketball academic requirements and tutorial morning/afternoon sessions, individual and planning sessions are arranged according to daily student athlete s academic schedule. These sessions may be offered from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm. Planning, communication, and travel to and from for specific health care and diagnostic on/off campus medical needs. Personally drive and oversee diagnostic needs and follow up care with various health care consultants (travel to local hospital or clinics for diagnostic x-rays, labs, MRI s, etc. Coordinate appointments with medical consultants, athlete, academic support staff, strength training staff, and staff coaches. Assist athletes in local, in-state, and out of state trips to and from various hospital sites for surgery, observance of surgeries, and follow up care at athletes on/off campus homes). Communication with student athlete s parents and/or guardians on a daily/weekly need. Design and implementation of off-season individual rehabilitation and preventive maintenance conditioning programs (one-on-one, 30-60 minute sessions in the summer with student athletes: (example) design and supervision of balance and agility programs at Jenison Field House Gymnastics room; balance training, specified symmetrical body training, single leg jump training, and functional training designs implemented and supervised 3-5 x s per week for 6-10 athletes. 2
Design, supervision, and implementation of in-season pre-practice functional warm-up routine. Design, supervision, and implementation of in-season post practice flexibility routine. Design, communication, and oversight of in-season training tables for on and off campus sites. Communication with various catering and food service programs, communication of availability of room sites, and supervision and feedback needed for continuous improvement of food quality, service, and nutritional value. Planning and selection of meals based on time of season and location. Design, communication, and oversight of in-season home and road pregame meal set-ups. Communication of room set-up, service needs, room availability, and nutritional value. Planning and selection of meals based on time of season and location. Long and short term planning, selection, and event coordination for away game hotel lodging. Continual communication (6 month planning period until game time) with selected hotels regarding room assignments, meeting rooms, catering needs, and special requests prior to road game arrival. Contract review and signing, communication with MSU administrators, and bargaining with various hotels for proper financial charges. On-sight review, communication, and observation of proper implementation details. Communication and assistance for former Michigan State University men s basketball players on professional health care needs. This assistance ranges from phone call communication or on-line communication. Communication may involve is assisting with health care needs to planning of review of diagnostic assessment and follow up communication with MSU team physicians. Weekly ordering of fluid replacement drinks and game day beverages for home and visiting team from Pepsi/Gatorade products. Maintain adequate supply for yearly fluid replacement and maintain proper records. Nutritional consultation depending time of year and participation levels. Coordinate and communicate with MSU staff nutritionist. Summer coverage: Coverage will vary depending on schedules of strength training, individual workouts, preventive programs, rehabilitation programs, and open gym activities. The strength training workouts, individual rehabilitation sessions, and individual preventive maintenance programs will range from 7:30 am until 10:00 am depending on academic and job schedules (times will vary, Sunday-Friday). Weekly coverage will encompass supervision of Duffy Daugherty Athletic Training Room 2-3 x s per week, either per morning/afternoon, depending upon the full time staff s schedule. If not available for Duffy coverage, I am normally present at my office at the Breslin Center maintaining communication with coaches and/or athletes, administering treatments, assisting and directing sports school athletic training students, design and implement off-season injury preventive conditioning programs, planning upcoming travel arrangements, updating medical records, or planning and supervision of open gym sessions. Open gym sessions are 3
conducted from Monday thru Thursday and involve pre-activity taping, therapeutic treatments, injury follow-ups, post activity treatments, observation, and injury triage. Coaching philosophy encourages the presence of athletic trainer to improve on player relationships, awareness, and continual communication. Normal off-season weekly schedule: Monday-Thursday 8:00 am until 7:00 or 8:00 pm, Friday 8:00 am until mid afternoon, Sunday 6:00 pm -8:00 pm. Work schedule varies depending on Duffy athletic training room coverage and individual planning of preventive/conditioning workouts Minimal in-season and off-season period for physical and mental recovery. Season begins early in September with pre-season workouts, Saturday open-gym and recruiting involvement sessions, and Sunday evening strength training sessions. In-season continues from October until mid-march or early Apri seven days per week. Off-season begins shortly after the end of the season. Non-supervised activity begins at the end of the school year. Off-season surgical procedures, preventive injury maintenance programs, development of sport specific skill programs, conditioning programs, and strength training sessions are implemented. First year players arrive on-campus in June for pre-season physical examinations and relationship building opportunities. Women s and Men s Golf 12 month daily health care oversight and supervision Daily injury evaluation, therapeutic modality, and prescribed rehabilitation program discussion. Design and implementation and individual designed therapy, rehabilitation, or preventive maintenance program sessions. Involvement with on-campus recruiting. Visitation and discussions with recruits focusing on health care needs, medical consultants, and personalized assistance offered within institution. Weekly/daily communication with coaching staff on specific student athlete s physical and psychological issues. Referral to various health care consultants and follow up communication Visitation and observation of practices. Set-up and coverage of home meet competitions. Travel and health care maintenance during specified Big Ten Tournament and/or NCAA sanctioned events. Individual consultation for various psychological issues. Communication with sports psychiatrist and/or referrals for various issues. Implementation of specific cognitive restructuring strategies per sports psychiatrist with daily/weekly communication with student athlete, physicians, and/or coach. Constant communication with student-athletes per physician s direction for the implementation of psychological strategies. 4
Breslin Student Events Center Athletic Training Room Daily opening, upkeep and oversight of athletic training room. Daily leadership, ownership, supervision, cleaning, and maintenance of athletic training room. Maintain a professional work environment and room organization per Michigan State University s long term vision. Oversight of stocking and organization of supplies. Travel to various oncampus facilities for gathering of supplies. Conduct yearly inventory of supplies. Maintenance of medical pharmaceutical and over the counter medications Availability for building s personnel daily medical emergencies and triage. Communication, planning, and implementation of event management for the Breslin Student Events Center sanctioned events (coordinate and communicate athletic training room coverage for girls/boys MHSSA high school basketball games, concerts, and sporting events) Daily maintenance of Berkowicz Building auxiliary gym athletic training room. Daily communication with Breslin Center custodial staff on basketball floors maintenance and upkeep. Michigan State University Undergraduate Athletic Training Educational Program Constant awareness, development, and implementation of a professional image directed at the profession of athletic training and Michigan State University are strongly noted. Professional athletic training room organization, supervision, personal and professional issues, research, passion, leadership, mentoring, communication, dress, actions, and staff/student-athlete interactions are highly maintained. Approved clinical instructor of two athletic training students throughout the preseason and in-season coverage of men s basketball. Constant attention on learning and mentoring skills are attempted. Encourage open communication, learning, inquisitiveness, and independence. Design and implementation of yearly undergraduate athletic training student mentoring program. Staff mentoring to assigned athletic training students and numerous other athletic training students within Michigan State University s Undergraduate Educational Program. Communicate and discuss for 3 rd year/graduate students the practice of employment applications, resume building, employment interviews, and employment selections. Supervisor and mentor to Educating Student (Athletic) Trainers in Medicine (E-STIM). E-STIM is an athletic training student directed club encouraging active thinking and offering athletic training students a voice in the educational program. Involvement encompasses bi-monthly meetings, educational inservices, community service, and professional development. 5
Maintenance and updating of the Michigan State University Athletic Training web page. Communication with various on-campus departments, alumni, and full time athletic training staff. Supervision of athletic training students is offered. Research of various institutional athletic training web sites and updates are completed. Assist in on-campus interviewing and selection of undergraduate and graduate athletic training students Assist on off-campus recruiting efforts of undergraduate athletic training students. Athletic Training Staff Supervisor and on-campus liaison for Michigan State University ORCBS and Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan. Coordinate athletic training students and staff training, certification, and upkeep. Yearly individual training and athletic training room site visitations. Professional Development Continual personal and professional development centered on learning, improvement, and gathering of new knowledge through research and experiences. Completed Doctoral Degree during the winter term 2005, while working fulltime with Men s Basketball. The completion reiterated my personal passion for learning, improvement, and development of personal and professional goals. Constant discussions with functional rehabilitation specialists including Gary Gray PT, Katie Stephens PT, and NASM specialists. Constant discussions and learning from staff members Sally Nogle, Dave Carrier, and John Powell. Observation and communication from team physicians Jeff Kovan, Jennifer Gilmore, Larry Nassar, and Lynn Brumm have added to improvement of osteopathic manual medicine skills. Planning on spring and summer learning sessions by attending Gary Gray s three day seminar on Integrated Chain Reaction and Functional Rehabilitation, and MSU s Level I and II manual medicine seminars. Yearly attending and learning at the National Athletic Trainers Association national symposium. Encouragement for an active involvement as a project investigator for UCRIHS projects of athletic training graduate students. Employment Philosophy and Intangibles The Michigan State University men s basketball philosophy focuses on a total yearly commitment of its full time staff members and student athletes. This philosophy of constant dedication, time, and passion is strongly encouraged daily in all on and off campus interactions. The environment of constant challenges, high energy, intensity, and a continual sense of urgency is expected for a twelve month period. The philosophical approach and working environment is far and above more compelling than the number of written statements or work duties of my job classification. The approach saturates and encourages my professional work environment to be in a constant state of high energy, sense of urgency, intensity, achievement oriented, and pursuit of improvement. 6
The majority of my professional job related experiences are not delegated to athletic training students/ graduate students. These programs are not given to the student athlete to complete on their own without supervision, proper implementation, or interaction. In order to sustain and guarantee these tasks are completed at a high level, these tasks are under constant evaluation, supervision, and observation. The philosophy of student athlete relationship building is continual and daily time consuming practice. Relationship building must be a conscious and integral focus through morning, evening, and night time interactions. These interactions are developed and fostered through cell phone conversations, electronic mailings, and text messaging throughout the day and night. Due to the changing times of the student athlete, times are limited within the athletic training room as compared to ten years ago. The men s basketball player s schedule is balanced with academic courses, tutorial sessions, and strength training session during the day, arrival for practice at 2:15 pm, and participation of pre-practice activities at 2:50pm. Unless the athlete is receiving therapeutic treatment and/or pre-practice taping, these interactions are limited. Therefore, my early morning treatment and rehabilitation sessions, post practice treatments and evaluations, training table, and evening communications are important one-on-one structures assisting the daily relationship building philosophy. 19 years of loyal and dedicated service. 7