If you enjoy watching professional sports, you’ve almost certainly seen athletes get injured on the field. The professionals who rush out onto the field and evaluate injured athletes are athletic trainers — healthcare providers who are specially trained to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and prevent athletic injuries.

Thanks to National Athletic Trainer Month, the important work that athletic trainers do can be recognized and celebrated nationwide.

National Athletic Trainer Month is a designated month that raises awareness of the important work that athletic trainers perform. The designation is intended to highlight the expertise of athletic trainers, who work with all sorts of athletes in a variety, and to show appreciation for the work they do to help people stay healthy.

Purpose and History of the Celebration

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) established this designated month to recognize the work that athletic trainers do and encourage the public to learn more about the field. First established in 2000,^{(See disclaimer 1)} this designated month celebrates the efforts of athletic trainers across all levels and types of sporting organizations.

National Athletic Training Month is celebrated each year in March. The public awareness campaign and public recognition of athletic trainers lasts all month long.

Annual Themes

Each year, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association establishes a unique theme for their celebration month. In 2025, for example, the theme for the month was “Champions in Health Care.” In 2024, NATA assigned the theme of “From Head to Toe” to the national celebration month. That theme was chosen to recognize the whole-body, whole-person approach to care that athletic trainers take.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

How It Is Recognized Nationwide

There are plenty of National Athletic Training Month ideas for celebration and advocacy. NATA supports recognition of this celebratory month by offering logos, posters, press releases, media alerts, social media images and public relations toolkits for organizations and businesses to use. In addition, throughout the month of March, NATA routinely hosts multiple virtual events that provide opportunities for people to engage with the athletic training community and learn more about the field.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

National Athletic Training Month Ideas

What does an athletic trainer do for you? If you’ve personally benefited from the work of an athletic trainer, or if you’re simply a sports fan or interested in this field, you may be eager to find some creative ways to celebrate. Consider the following:

• Social media: Use NATA’s social media images and spread the message about this recognition month online.
• Workshops: Look for an injury prevention workshop to participate in or, if you help run a health and wellness organization, consider hosting one yourself.
• Community fitness challenges: Consider organizing a community fitness challenge in March designed to help your neighbors enjoy the benefits of physical activity.
• Posters: If you work in a health and wellness organization, consider downloading and posting NATA’s annual poster for this recognition month. It will include the annual theme or slogan.

Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals who specialize in providing emergency care to injured athletes. They also help athletes recover from their injuries through rehabilitation programs, and they work with athletes to reduce their risk of injury.

Key Responsibilities in Injury Prevention and Care

Some of the key responsibilities of an athletic trainer include the following:

• Providing first aid and stabilizing emergency care to injured athletes during games, practice activities and physical training sessions
• Identifying and assessing the nature and severity of injuries
• Applying devices intended to prevent injuries or protect an injured body part, such as braces, bandages and kinesiology tape
• Developing and implementing rehabilitation programs to help athletes recover from injuries
• Developing and implementing injury prevention programs to reduce the risk of injury
• Handling administrative matters, including records on injuries and treatment programs

Athletic trainers often work with athletes with acute injuries, but they may also work with athletes who are managing chronic injuries or illnesses. Injuries and illnesses may range from mild, like ankle sprains, to life-threatening, such as brain injuries and heatstroke.

Athletic trainers can work with athletes across the lifespan in a range of different settings. They collaborate with other healthcare providers and work under the direction of a physician.

Difference Between Athletic Trainers and Personal Trainers

Although the terms athletic trainer and personal trainer may sometimes be mistakenly used interchangeably, they aren’t the same thing. An athletic trainer is a healthcare professional who works with athletes, while a personal trainer develops physical fitness programs and helps clients of all athletic abilities reach their wellness goals.

Physical activity is essential for good health, and athletic trainers are essential for healthy exercise. Athletic trainers can help identify injuries as early as possible so that the athlete doesn’t risk continuing to play and making the injury worse. Through early identification and comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation, athletic trainers can improve injury outcomes.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

According to NATA, athletic trainers can also work with non-athletes, such as in an occupational health capacity. They provide a continuum of care for patients who are injured at work, reducing injury time, lowering absenteeism rates and even limiting healthcare costs.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Athletic trainers work with a diverse range of patients across the lifespan and in many different settings. Many athletic trainers work at public and private secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities. Others work for professional sports teams, as well as for Olympic teams.^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Some athletic trainers work for smaller sports organizations, such as youth leagues, municipal sports organizations and independently owned youth sports businesses. Still others may work in settings such as:^{(See disclaimer 5)}

• Performing arts organizations, including professional dance teams
• Occupational health departments
• Police and fire departments and academies
• Sports medicine and physical therapy clinics
• Hospitals and physician offices

Degrees and Certifications Required

If National Athletic Training Month has inspired you to pursue a career in this field, you’ll need to learn how to become an athletic trainer. It’s important to note that the requirements to practice as an athletic trainer can vary by state, so research your state’s requirements before getting started.^{(See disclaimer 6)}

Almost every state requires athletic trainers to obtain a license or certification. Typically, licensure requirements include obtaining a master’s degree from an accredited program. First, however, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree.^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Usually, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree that covers relevant coursework in science and health. A degree with an emphasis in athletic training, for example, will cover the relevant competencies. Then, you can earn a master’s degree in athletic training.^{(See disclaimer 6)}

After graduating with a master’s degree, you will likely need to pass a licensure or certification exam. Then, you can start looking for athletic training jobs. To maintain your license, you may need to periodically complete continuing education courses.^{(See disclaimer 6)}

If you’re passionate about both sports and health sciences, consider pursuing a career in athletic training. Start with GCU’s Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Pre-Athletic Training to gain a firm foundation in the field and then earn the Master of Science in Athletic Training degree.