NATA Beat: Fall 2025 Advocacy Updates
Every day, NATA and the NATA Government Affairs Department are working on behalf of the athletic training profession. With staff members experienced in all aspects of the legislative process, the NATA Government Affairs Department is the sole department focused on advocacy for the profession. NATA’s goal is to ensure that all ATs can work to the fullest extent of their education and skill set.
Read the Sports Medicine Legal Digest
NATA has launched the Sports Medicine Legal Digest, a new quarterly digital magazine focused on legal issues affecting athletic trainers and other sports medicine health care professionals.
Apply For USBJI Grant Funding
The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) and Bone and Joint Canada are dedicated to increasing research of musculoskeletal diseases. To keep pace with the high and increasing burden of these diseases, a higher level of research performed by young investigators in the musculoskeletal diseases is required, and future levels of research assured.
HOF Inductees Reflect on Their Mentors
During the 68th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo this June in Houston, NATA will induct seven more esteemed athletic trainers into its Hall of Fame.
NATA Foundation 5K Makes Fundraising Easy
A staple of the NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, the NATA Research & Education Foundation 5K Fueled by Gatorade will take place this year at 6 a.m. June 29 during NATA 2017 in Houston. Not only is this a great opportunity to get outdoors and be active, it’s also your chance to give back to the NATA Foundation and support it’s many initiatives.
International Speaker Program Launched
We are proud to announce the launch of the NATA international conference funding initiative. This program supports athletic training scientists and clinicians who wish to present their research or intellectual content at conferences or symposia outside of the United States.
Licensure Clarity Act Reintroduced in Senate
The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (S. 808), has just been re-introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The house version of the bill, H.R. 302, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 9 of this year only three days after being reintroduced.
Improve Patient Care with Data
By Scott Sailor
President, National Athletic Trainers' Association
Today's athletes are like finely tuned machines: Every aspect of their physiology is carefully worked over, each variance in the athlete's condition diligently noted. As athletic trainers, we are the tireless architects behind an athlete's health, both on and off the field.
Pro Baseball Players Support Athletic Training
Last weekend NATA staff conducted interviews with current and former Seattle Mariners players Ken Griffey Jr., Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Kyle Seager, Steve Cishek and Hisashi Iwakuma. During the interviews, players discussed the important role that athletic trainers played in their careers. We also talked with the head AT for the Seattle Mariners, Rick Griffin, about how athletic trainers reduce risk for players at every level.
Knowing the Rules of Sport
By Lisa Walker, ATC
NATA SSATC District Seven Representative
Working in the secondary school setting is rewarding and presents some challenging issues in knowing the rules of sport that apply to all participants, including the AT. How much do you need to know about each sport?