Athletic Trainers

RRAC Athletic Trainers Committee
Operating Procedures
Updated September 1, 2022

Mission Statement: The purpose of the Red River Athletic Conference Athletic Trainers Committee is to ensure that quality health care is provided to all student-athletes competing in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). All guidelines, policies and procedures, and recommendations from the RRAC Athletic Trainers' Committee are designed to assist RRAC member institutions in providing a healthy and safe environment for the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and other individuals affiliated with those institutions.

Requirements

It is a requirement for the home site to have a certified Athletic Trainer or authorized certified outside service on campus during all sporting events. It is the home team’s responsibility to provide an Athletic Trainer or training service.

If a home site fails to have a certified Athletic Trainer or outside service at an event and the visiting team has arrived on site, there will be a forfeit by the home team.

If a traveling Athletic Trainer crosses state lines, they can provide training for their own athletes but not that of the home team.

Committee Membership:

• The RRAC Athletic Trainers Committee shall include all athletic trainers (head or assistant) affiliated with each of the member institutions.
• The chair of the committee will serve a two year term and will be elected by a simple majority. Each member institution will receive one vote.
• The chair shall serve as the liaison between the Athletic Trainers' Committee and:
  • The RRAC Commissioner
  • The RRAC Athletic Directors at their annual meetings

Annual Conference Call/Meeting:

• An annual conference call/meeting will be utilized for disseminating information, reviewing/finalizing new guidelines, policies and procedures, and recommendations.
• The commissioner or other representative of the RRAC will be invited to participate in the annual conference call/meeting.
• One member, a volunteer or a member chosen by the chair, will be assigned to record minutes of the conference call/meeting. These minutes will be kept for record and approved at the beginning of every subsequent meeting.
• At the time of the conference call/meeting, contact information for all athletic training staffs at member institutions will be verified as up-to-date and disseminated to all institutions.

New Recommendations:

• New recommendations for guidelines, policies, and procedures may be submitted by any committee member to the chairperson.
• New recommendations will be given to all members for review prior to discussion during the annual conference call/meeting.
• New recommendations for guidelines, policies, and procedures will be voted on during the annual conference call/meeting. Each school will receive one vote.
• All recommendations should be approved by all committee members before being passed along, with rationale, to the Athletic Directors for acceptance.

RRAC Athletic Trainer of the Year:

• The RRAC Athletic Trainers Committee shall vote one member as the RRAC Athletic Trainer of the Year. Each member institution will receive one vote.
• The award will recognize an athletic trainer at an RRAC institution who has distinguished themselves as a model of the profession of athletic training in personal conduct and professional allied health service to the RRAC and the student-athletes, coaches, and administrators of the RRAC.
• Every athletic trainer that works in the RRAC will be eligible for the award
• The RRAC Sports Information Director will email a ballot to all member institutions and collect/tally the votes.
• The winner of the award will then be the RRAC nomination for NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year award.

RRAC Website:

• The RRAC Athletic Trainers' Committee Operating Procedures will be listed on the RRAC website along with contact information for all athletic trainers at member institutions.

Game Day Supplies and Services

The following minimum supplies/services should be made available by the home team at all RRAC contests:

• Baseball
  • Athletic training room access 1 hour before batting practice begins
  • 1 10-gallon cooler of water per dugout
  • Cups or Bottles
  • 1 ice chest with ice bags
• Basketball
  • Athletic training room access 2 hours before game begins
  • 1 10-gallon cooler of water per bench
  • Cups or Bottles
  • 1 ice chest with ice bags
• Cross-Country
  • Athletic training room access upon request
  • 1 10-gallon cooler of water
  • Cups or Bottles
  • 1 ice chest with ice bags
• Soccer
  • Athletic training room access 2 hours before game begins
  • 1 10-gallon cooler of water per bench
  • Cups or Bottles
  • 1 ice chest with ice bags
• Softball
  • Athletic training room access 1 hour before batting practice begins
  • 1 10-gallon cooler of water per dugout
  • Cups or Bottles
  • 1 ice chest with ice bags
• Outdoor Track and Field
  • Athletic training room access 2 hours before competition begins
  • 2 10-gallon cooler of water, minimum
  • Cups or bottles
  • 1 ice chest with bags
• Volleyball
  • Athletic training room access 2 hours before game begins
  • 1 10-gallon cooler of water per bench
  • Cups or Bottles
  • 1 ice chest with ice bags
• Emergency medical equipment should be made available by host institution at contests where AT is present:
  • AED
  • Vacuum splints
  • Crutches
  • Biohazard bag
    
• Visiting team shall be responsible for supplying a kit with items needed for pre-game taping, bandaging, padding, etc.
• Visiting team shall be responsible for supplying shower towels.
• Visiting teams traveling without a certified/licensed athletic trainer must provide documentation from their certified/licensed athletic trainer in order to receive any pre- competition treatment.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Policy

Every RRAC member institution should have an AED available for all contests hosted on their campus. Access to early defibrillation is essential. Early access to defibrillation can double the chance of survival of cardiac arrest. A goal of less than 3-5 minutes from the time of collapse to delivery of the first shock is strongly recommended.

It is recommended that and Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place for the potential use of an AED and that at least one coach from every sport be CPR/AED certified.

Concussion Policy

Protocol for in-game management:

• If a student-athlete is suspected of having suffered a concussion while participating in a RRAC contest, they must be immediately removed from participation and be evaluated by an athletic trainer.
• Any student-athlete that exhibits any sign or symptom of a concussion will be removed from that contest and not allowed to return to play that day.
• Athletic trainers have final authority in determining if a student-athlete is fit to return to play.
• If a team is traveling without their athletic trainer, the host athletic trainer has final authority in determining if a student-athlete is fit to return to play.
• If a student-athlete suffers a consussion in an away contest without their athletic triner present, the host athletic trainer should make every effort to inform the athletic trainer at the injured student-athlete's institution (via email and/or phone).
• If a student-athlete suffers a concussion in an away contest, they may not return to play until cleared by their institution's athletic trainer.
• If the student-athlete is traveling to another institution for a contest before returning home, the host athletic trainer should also make every effort ot inform the athletic trainer at the next institution.
• It is recommended that each member institution have a written protocol in place for treating concussed student-athletes and to determine return to play.

Lightning Safety Policy

Lightning's behavior is random and unpredictable. Preparedness and a quick response are the best defenses to minimize lightning hazard.

As severe weather threatens a RRAC athletic contest, the host athletic trainer, host administrator, and game officials should begin to monitor the risk of lightning.

The RRAC recommends that each member institution utilize a lightning detection system and/or have a lightning detector on site at all outdoor events. In the event that a lightning system/detector is not available, the flash-to-bang method shoudl be used. To use this method, count the seconds from the time lightning is observed to when the clap of thunder is heard. Divide the number of seconds by five (5) to obtain (in miles) the distance the lightning is occurring. Athletic activities will be suspended when lightning is detected within a 10-mile range when using a system/detector or when the flash-to-bang count is 50 seconds or less.

The host athletic trainer has the final authority to stop a contest due to lightning.

Activity may be resumed 30 minutes after the LAST lightning strike. Each time lightning is observed or thunder is heard, the 30-minute clock should be reset. When activity is suspended, it is necessary to direct athletes, coaches, spectators, etc. to safe shelter as quickly as possible.

RRAC Concussion Management Policy

A RRAC member institution shall have a concussion management plan for its student-athletes. The plan shall include components of education, assessment, treatment and return to play (RTP). The following list is not meant to be comprehensive but outlines minimal requirements for institutions.

1. An annual process that ensures student-athletes are educated about the signs and symptoms of concussions. Student-athletes must acknowledge that they have received information about the signs and symptoms of concussions and that they have a responsibility to report concussion-related injuries and illnesses to a medical staff member;
2. A process that ensures a student-athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion shall be removed from athletics activities (e.g., competition, practice, conditioning sessions) and evaluated by a medical staff member (e.g., sports medicine staff, team physician) with experience in the evaluation and management of concussions;
3. A policy that precludes a student-athlete diagnosed with a concussion from returning to athletics activity (e.g., competition, practice, conditioning sessions) for at least the remainder of that calendar day; and
4. A policy that requires medical clearance for a student-athlete diagnosed with a concussion to return to the athletics activity (e.g., competition, practice, conditioning sessions) as determined by a physician (e.g., team physician) or the physician’s designee.

An institutional Concussion Management Protocol shall be submitted and on file with the Commissioner’s Office. The protocol shall be consistent with the NCAA guidelines and shall include:

1. Policies and procedures that meet the requirements of RRAC Bylaw Section 30;
2. Procedures for pre-participation baseline testing of each student-athlete is highly encouraged;
3. Procedures for reducing exposure to head injuries;
4. Procedures for education about concussion, including a policy that addresses return-to-learn;
5. Procedures to ensure that proper and appropriate concussion management, consistent with best known practices, is made available to any student-athlete who has suffered a concussion;
6. Procedures requiring that the process of identifying, removing from game or practice, and assessing a student-athlete for a possible concussion are reviewed annually; and
7. A written certificate of compliance signed by the institution’s athletics director.

RRAC Athletic Trainers
2020-21