The Influence of Teamwork
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.
As a student athlete, Aric Quinney, MSAT, LAT, ATC, was a direct beneficiary of care provided by an athletic trainer before he developed an interest in the profession.
“While playing, I went through numerous injuries that I had to work through and rehab,” he said, add thing that his journey athletic training took hold after meeting his college athletic training professor, Jay Johnson, AT Ret., who pushed him further into pursuing the profession. “My love for sports and interest in the human body and the rehabilitation process made it a perfect fit.”
Now an athletic trainer with the Seattle Mariners, Quinney supports the team before, during and after a tournament, and advocates for the profession to local schools in the Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, area.
Below, he discusses his athletic training career and advocacy in the professional sports setting.
What drew you to the professional sports setting?
I have always strived to be the best I can be at everything I do, and being surrounded by people who are all working to be the best in their fields – from fellow athletic trainers, strength and conditioning staff, coaches, equipment personnel and players – is inspiring and keeps me wanting to be better every day.
What does a typical day at the Seattle Mariners look like?
A typical day begins about six hours before the game starts. During this time, we get the athletic training facility ready and go over plans for the players on that given day, discussing with the strength and conditioning staff and coaches. We then begin the first round of treatments and rehab the players before they go into their prep work and practice.
After practice, we address anything that pops up prior to the game, we then get the starting pitcher ready for the game with anything they need as part of their routine, then work on anything the rest of the players need for the game.
Once the game starts, we observe from the dugout, staying prepared for anything that may pop up during the game. After the game ends, we head in to begin any post game treatments, evaluations and recovery needs for the players, finishing our day with completing our medical records and discussing anything that popped up throughout the day.
Tell us about your most memorable day on the job.
It’s impossible to limit this to just one memory. I have had the privilege of working in amazing places and being a part of some really great teams. From clinching playoff berths in baseball, seeing records broken, being on the sideline for a Rose Bowl victory, working in the NFL and all the days in between really have been special. Any time you can make a player feel better and watch them succeed on the field is always special.
Why is representation in athletic training important and how does it impact the profession?
Representation in athletic training is important because it’s not always on people’s minds when they think of their sports team. Growing up in northern Wisconsin, I was unaware of the profession itself and had no idea I could be a part of a professional sports team. Having positive AT representation, specifically when it comes to sports teams, can help people pursue their dreams of being a part of sports teams in a capacity they may have never imagined.
How have you advocated for your position and the athletic training profession throughout your career?
I have been lucky to have had the privilege to speak to local schools in the Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, area regarding our profession as well as my community back home in Wisconsin on several occasions. Speaking with high school students and college students about the profession has been a real joy of mine throughout my career and I hope I can, at the very least, get a student to think about pursuing the athletic training profession.
What advice do you have for people who are thinking about becoming an athletic trainer?
Be open to all opportunities would be my first piece of advice for anyone thinking about the profession. We are involved in so many different types of industries and professions that many people may have never thought of, and if you are given a chance to experience something you have never experienced before, I highly recommend jumping on the opportunity. I have been lucky enough to live in some really cool places and meet amazing people all because of the opportunities I had in this profession. This job can take you all around the world, showing you different cultures and work environments in a way no other profession can.
My second piece of advice would be to never stop learning. Always ask other ATs and strength coaches questions on their experiences and thought processes on certain things. Always take an interest in continuing education courses that will challenge you and help you continue to develop your thought process and skill set.
