Finding Your Footing: Overcoming the Challenges of a New Athletic Training Career
You’ve always wanted to be an athletic trainer. Your athletic training program may have felt like boot camp, but you made it. You landed a job, but maybe you’ve never felt more unprepared to care for these athletes on your own. You’re already considering leaving athletic training, and you’ve barely started. You’re thinking, “What did I get myself into?”
According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), many new athletic trainers leave the profession within their first year. While the pandemic significantly impacted healthcare fields, the latest generation of athletic trainers entered post-pandemic, yet the challenges remain. Why are they leaving?
The first year in any new profession is tough. But unlike many jobs, athletic trainers are responsible for managing multiple athletes, making critical decisions, and working long, often unpredictable hours. These pressures make it difficult to get fully oriented to a new role, especially one that comes with so much responsibility. Some athletic trainers are expected to handle leadership roles before they’ve gained a year of experience. Others are assigned to high-stakes environments right out of school, with orientations cut short due to staffing shortages. Many new athletic trainers aren’t set up for success.
How can you rebuild your confidence and find joy in athletic training?
Speak up. Let your supervisor know how you’re feeling. Leadership can sometimes be just as stressed as you, especially when experienced leaders are in short supply. Clear communication is key to getting the support you need.
Find a mentor. This can be challenging but incredibly valuable. Your mentor doesn’t have to be a fellow athletic trainer, either. It could be a seasoned healthcare professional who has been through similar experiences and can offer career advice and guidance.
Support each other. Take the time to uplift your colleagues. Athletic trainers are busy managing the needs of their athletes, but take a moment to check in on your team. Are others feeling like you? Boosting each other’s morale can make all the difference. If your organization has a reward or recognition program, use it to lift others up.
Remember the team. Athletic trainers often focus on each other but don’t forget about the other professionals around you. Physical therapists, athletics staff, physicians, and even new coaches are all working through similar stress. Teamwork makes the dream work—lean on each other.
Reach out for help. If you or a colleague is overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek help. Athletic trainers often see themselves as the ones offering support, not needing it. Yet the pressures of the profession can feel isolating and overwhelming at any stage. Don’t let yourself fall into that trap. Many organizations offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) but don’t overlook external resources like mental health hotlines if needed.
