Breaking Through the Norm
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month in November, NATA Now is highlighting some of NATA’s Native and Indigenous American members and their impact on the athletic training profession.
Athletic training isn’t just about blending sports and health care. For Cody Corntassel, MSEd, LAT, ATC, it’s also about serving patients with a dynamic, flexible mindset.
As an athletic trainer with the China Spring Independent School District in China Spring, Texas, Corntassel said he enjoys advocating for the profession to the next generation.
“This can include breaking the preconceived notions of what some believe it is that we do by providing the highest quality care that we can,” he said.
Continue reading to learn about Corntassel’s work with student athletes.
What drew you to the secondary school setting?
The only constant in the secondary setting is the constant change that happens. I really like that no two days are the same. Every day brings its own challenges and highlights.
What does a typical day at China Spring Independent School District look like?
Morning treatments begin at 7 a.m. and run until school starts around 8 a.m. I typically spend our first period catching up on updating injury reports and documenting treatments. From there, the rest of the day is filled with our athletic periods. Our school has eight periods and six of those are various athletics, from seventh, eighth and ninth grade athletics to girls’ and boys’ athletics. During these athletic periods, my role can vary from providing treatment and rehabilitation to helping our strength and conditioning coach in the weight room and helping out with any of the sports during that time. After school, we have practices and games, so my role is providing quality coverage of these and helping in any way I can.
Tell us about your most memorable day on the job.
My most memorable day on the job was when we won our second state championship football in 2022. That was a season filled with injuries and setbacks, and to be in a position to compete for a state championship, it was amazing to see because the student athletes had worked incredibly hard to overcome the adversities.
Why is representation in athletic training important and how does it impact the profession?
I think representation is very important because it allows others from various backgrounds to see someone in the profession doing great things and aspire to do the same.
How have you advocated for your position and the athletic training profession throughout your career?
I believe advocating for the profession starts with educating the younger generation about all that we, as athletic trainers, do. This can include breaking the preconceived notions of what some believe it is that we do by providing the highest quality care we can.
What advice do you have for people who are thinking about becoming an athletic trainer?
Don’t be afraid to learn new things. Our profession is constantly looking for ways to progress and we can’t be afraid to branch out and look into new ways to help the populations we serve.
