The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) has partnered with Vanderbilt Sports Medicine and the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to provide sports medicine coverage at all TSSAA championship games.
Under the agreement, Vanderbilt will supply certified athletic trainers at all TSSAA championship events which include golf, volleyball, soccer, cross country, football, bowling, wrestling, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis and track and field.
Certified athletic trainers, denoted with the credentials ATC, are health care professionals whose services include prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of physical injuries.
“Vanderbilt Sports Medicine has a long history of keeping young athletes fit, healthy and off the sidelines, and we’re excited to extend our services to all Tennessee athletes participating in these championship events,” said Mitch Bellamy, A.T.C., assistant director of Sports Medicine.
Athletic trainers employed by Vanderbilt Sports Medicine are stationed at every public high school in Davidson and Williamson counties and some private schools—28 in all—across Middle Tennessee. They also provide sports medicine coverage to various youth leagues and other organized sporting events and tournaments throughout Davidson and Williamson Counties.
“Less than half of the high schools in the U.S. have athletic trainers, and we’re fortunate that Vanderbilt is able to provide this community support,” Mr. Bellamy said. “Today’s kids are all bigger, stronger and faster, and the collisions are more violent. There’s no question we’re seeing more injuries and trained medical professionals are needed on the sidelines to manage those injuries.”
“High school athletes have come to depend on the high-quality athletic assistance that Vanderbilt Sports Medicine trainers provide on the scene and throughout the season, and we appreciate/value the support Vanderbilt Sports Medicine has provided these student athletes,” said TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress. “We want parents and athletes to realize they’ve got the best medical partner in Vanderbilt Sports Medicine, and how integral these trainers are to our athletic teams.”