NATA Position Statements

Position statements are scientifically based, peer reviewed research with a team of authors who are experts on the subject. Since 2011, the NATA Research and Education Foundation’s Pronouncements Committee has been responsible for the development of the NATA Position Statements. The following provides a list of position statements by domain. We recognize that many position statements cover content that belongs in multiple domains. However, each statement is only listed once, under its primary domain. 

DOMAIN I: Risk Reduction, Wellness and Health Literacy

• Lightning Safety for Athletics and Recreation (March 2013 - Replaces 2001 statement)
• Environmental Cold Injuries (Nov. 2008)
• Reducing Intentional Head-First Contact Behavior in American Football Players (February 2022 – Replaces 2004 Statement)

• Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury (pdf) (February 2018)

• Prevention of Pediatric Overuse Injuries (April 2011)
• Preparticipation Physical Examinations and Disqualifying Conditions (February 2014)
• Management of the Athlete with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (pdf) (Dec. 2007)
• Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (Sept. 2012)
• Evaluation of Dietary Supplements for Performance Nutrition (February 2013)

DOMAIN II: Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis

• Evaluation, Management, and Outcomes of and Return-to-Play Criteria for Overhead Athletes With Superior Labral Anterior-Posterior Injuries (pdf) (April 2018)

• Management of Asthma in Athletes (pdf) (Sept. 2005)
• Skin Diseases (July 2010)
• Preventing, Detecting, and Managing Disordered Eating in Athletes (Feb. 2008)
• Management of Sport Concussion (pdf) (March 2014)
• Management of Sport-Related Concussion (pdf) (March 2024)

DOMAIN III: Critical Incident Management

• Emergency Action Plan Development and Implementation in Sport (pdf) (June 2024)
• Exertional Heat Illnesses (2015 - Replaces 2002 statement)
• Preventing Sudden Death in Sports  (pdf) (Feb. 2012)
• Acute Management of the Cervical Spine-Injured Athlete (May 2009)

• Immediate Management of Appendicular Joint Dislocations (pdf) (December 2018)

• Preventing and Managing Sport-Related Dental and Oral Injuries (October 2016)

DOMAIN IV: Therapeutic Intervention

• Conservative Management and Prevention of Ankle Sprains in Athletes (July 2013)

• Management of Individuals with Patellofemoral Pain (pdf) (September 2018)

• Management of Acute Skin Trauma (December 2016)
• Safe Weight Loss and Maintenance Practices in Sport and Exercise (June 2011)

• Fluid Replacement for the Physically Active (pdf) (October 2017)

DOMAIN V: Health Administration and Professional Responsibility

• Facilitating Work-Life Balance in Athletic Training Practice Settings (pdf) (August 2018)

 

All position statements are written with the most current evidence at the time of publication. However, the NATA Research & Education Foundation Pronouncements Committee recognizes evidence will change over time; therefore, procedures are in place to review position statements on a yearly basis and update as needed. The Pronouncements Committee reviews statements with the help of an expert to determine the need for revision as well as the urgency of disseminating new evidence. The time of revision to publication can take up to two years to complete. Because of this, the position statement will stand until updates are deemed needed or the Pronouncements Committee decides to sunset the statement. Having said this, the burden to keep up with the ever-changing evidence still lies upon the reader. When new evidence is published, it’s the responsibility of the clinician to take the new evidence into account when making clinical decisions. Additionally, the clinician is advised to recognize and follow any guidelines including, but not limited to, professional scope of practice, state practice acts and the duty of care.

As can be found on published position statements, we remind the reader of the following:

“NATA publishes its position statements as a service to promote the awareness of certain issues to its members. The information contained in the position statement is neither exhaustive nor exclusive to all circumstances or individuals. Variables such as institutional human resource guidelines, state or federal statutes, rules, regulations and regional environmental conditions may impact the relevance and implementation of these recommendations. NATA advises its members and others to carefully and independently consider each of the recommendations (including the applicability of same to any particular circumstance or individual). The position statement should not be relied upon as an independent basis for care, but rather as a resource available to NATA members or others. Moreover, no opinion is expressed herein regarding the quality of care that adheres to or differs from NATA’s position statements. NATA reserves the right to rescind or modify its position statements at any time.”