March is Athletic Training Month!

Stephen Stracquatanio and Dr. Stephen Kanter invite you to listen to a radio show on March 23rd and March 30th, at 9:30AM (EST) on 89.5FM WSOU.  Since the radio frequency is out of the District 10 range, the show can also be accessed online at www.wsou.net anywhere in the world for free.  More information and past shows can be heard on www.healthexchangeradioshow.com. Please click here for a flyer with more information.

 More AT month info!

1.  The NATA Public Relations Council has issued a call for its contest that recognizes outstanding PR achievements by NATA district and state associations, student groups or individuals. The activity must have been developed and implemented by one more NATA members.

Winners receive a $150 gift certificate for NATA logo merchandise. Two honorable mentions may be recognized in each category. Categories include:
Most creative
Best grassroots
Greatest impact
Best state association effort
Best student effort

Entries are limited to PR efforts for the 2012 National Athletic Training Month only. A member/group can only be recognized in one category. You must be an NATA member to win.

All entries must be submitted online. Entries sent by mail or email will not be accepted. All support materials (photos, links to a television broadcast or newspaper article, etc.) must be uploaded. To be considered, entries must educate, use proper "athletic trainer" terminology and must not be self-serving. Emphasis will be placed on originality. The deadline is April 16, 2012.

 

2.  National Athletic Training Month is a time to spread the word about the profession of athletic training and how it positively impacts the world. Participating in NATM is simple. Throughout the month of March, a variety of thought provoking questions will be posted on NATA’s Facebook page: Certified Athletic Trainers. In SIX words, make your declaration and shout it loud. Step into the spotlight and post your declaration on Facebook: Certified Athletic Trainers page.

Sample questions to be posted on Certified Athletic Trainers Facebook Page:
· What does NATM mean to you?
· What is your athletic training elevator speech?
· Why should ATs be in all high schools?
· What is the value of an AT?
· What do you love about athletic training?
· Why should your Legislators support HR 2785?
· Why are you an AT?
· How are you successful at work?
· What makes you smile at work?

6 Word Declaration Examples:
· Time to step into the spotlight.
· ATs treat the hurting and wounded.
· Athletic Trainers keep student athletes safe.
· ATs keep the physically active healthy.
· ATs are experts in immediate care.
· ATs are health care providers too.
· Athletes returning to activity with smile.

Public Relations Committee

 

Purpose:

Provide input and direction to NWATA’s public relations program by:

 

a Communicating between state public relations committees.

 

b. Ascertain available public relation resources.

 

c. Implementing meaningful, viable public relations activities.

 

d. Submitting items to national, regional and state athletic training publications.

 

e. Advising the President and Board on matters pertaining to public relations.

 


NWATA Contact:   Benjamin Henry benjaminhenryatc@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL PR UPDATE:

Total audience reach for January: 27,341,788

 

1. Youth Sports Safety Summit and National Action Plan Efforts (Tuesday/Wednesday, February 5-6, Washington, DC)

 

Our outreach continues on the trade and consumer fronts with the following schedule in place:

 

Formal Speakers on Tuesday:

 

  • ·         Jim Thornton, MA, ATC, CES: general introductions as NATA president
  • ·         Chris Nowinski: experience with and perspective on concussions in sports
  • ·         Doug Casa, PhD, ATC: insight into statement on preventing sudden death in high school athletics
  • ·         Beth Mallon: Advocates for Injured Athletes, parent advocate and Alliance representative highlighting the last year of efforts and Alliance updates
  • ·         Dawn Comstock, PhD, Colorado School of Public Health at University of Colorado, Denver, will provide an overview of research and trends on the youth sports front
  • ·         Charles Gfeller, Esq., will address risk management in schools
  • ·         Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC: changing the culture of playing

 

Schedule will include presentations, final shaping of National Action Plan for Sports Safety, advocacy training and congressional visits on Capitol Hill.

 

Press Material Development/Distribution

We are working with NATA on all press kit development and distribution including:

 

ü  Several pre-event waves of publicity in support of the Summit (including Steering Committee meeting and next steps). Media alerts have been distributed and we are finalizing release on the Plan, as well as bio and fact sheets to be completed in tandem with NATA.

ü  Athlete Bill of Rights (to be introduced for Congressional approval and support);

ü  Major emphasis on trades and consumer outlets

 

Cate Brennan DC Visit: Association One-On-Ones

 

In our follow up with key DC associations regarding the Summit, we coordinated conference calls/one-on- one meetings with Cate Brennan and key communications or policy/program contacts in early January. Meetings were scheduled with:

 

  • ·         American Academy of School Administrators (posted blog on Summit:
  • ·         National Association of School Boards of Education (joined Youth Sports Safety Alliance)
  • ·         President’s Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition (exploring synergies)
  • ·         National Recreation & Park Association (attending Summit)
  • ·         PTA (continuing a dialogue with NATA)

 

Speaking Opportunities:

 

As reported last month and as a result of our follow up and work with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), we have secured a speaking opportunity for Jon Almquist at NASPE’s annual meeting (April 24, Charlotte), where he will present a summary of Summit findings at a special coaching day session. NASPE recently joined the Youth Sports Safety Alliance.

 

2.  Super Bowl XLVII

 

In an effort to encourage correct athletic trainer terminology, we have:

 

  • ·        
  • ·        
  • ·         Contacted National Sportscasters & Sportswriters Association to encourage their dissemination of the letter to members which they posted on the website
  • ·         Contacted Jim Nantz’ office (he and Chris Simms will broadcast the game on CBS) regarding terminology (via NSSA).

 

3. National Athletic Training Month 2013: Every Body Needs An Athletic Trainer

 

Formal press efforts will be solidified within the month and in preparation for March.

 

4. Advance for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine

 

We continue to work with Advance and editor Jon Bassett on bylined articles for the year and have submitted an article written by Ben Henry on occupational injury prevention which is slated for publication in March 2013.

 

5. General Consumer Placements:

 

USA Today, January 10, 11 and 21, total audience reach: 15,021,159

 

Jim Thornton was interviewed by Janice Lloyd for a Life section article on Robert Griffin III, his ACL injury and the implications for every day athletes. The article ran first online and was picked up in over 30 articles; then in the hard copy paper with his quote as a pull-out on the 21st. The list of outlets is attached and the article can be read by visiting:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/10/rgiii-knees-nfl-parents/1823293/

 

New York Times, Sunday, January 27, 2013, total audience reach: 6,100,000

 

Sports columnist Jere Longman interviewed Jim Thornton for a Sunday front page sports section article on alumni football associations. The article focused on the health risks and rewards of baby boomers and others who pick up the game for fun competition and fundraising and provided good insight from Jim:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/20/sports/clinging-to-youth-at-a-cost.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0

 

New York Times: Friday, January 26, 2013 (online) and Tuesday, January 29 (hard copy paper), total audience reach: 5,470,849

 

Joe Hart was interviewed last summer by Well blog reporter Gretchen Reynolds on men and knee health (see story below as she also writes for Men’s Journal). She actually used some of his comments for an online article in the paper on January 26 and hard copy on the 29th re: knee exercises for those with painful knees: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/ask-well-squats-for-aging-knees/. This was in response to a reader question.

 

Men’s Journal, November 2012 (updated here), total audience reach: 700,916

Contributing reporter Gretchen Reynolds interviewed Joe Hart on men’s healthy knees and development of osteoarthritis. Joe provided general insight and recommended a good knee exercise program for readers. She was interested in talking to Joe as follow up to his annual meeting presentation on OA that we had shared with her. This article ran late last year and we are including a link here:

http://it.zinio.com/sitemap/Men-magazines/Mens-Journal/Nov-12/cat1960022/is-416240303/pg-59

 

Michigan State University, State News, January 17, 2013, total audience reach: 48,864

Erik Swartz conducted an interview with a student for this school publication re: C-spine injuries and injuries to two athletes at the school:

http://statenews.com/article/2013/01/down-but-not-out