SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Saint Louis Football Club
By: Cody Hutson (SLU MAT Class of 2019)
This summer I have had the honor of working with Saint Louis’ professional soccer team, Saint Louis Football Club (STLFC). I have always wanted to have my career to be focused on soccer and this is the perfect opportunity for me to peek into what that world would be like. I am stationed at Toyota Stadium in Fenton and help treat and maintain the health and fitness of the professional athletes.
I have the pleasure to learn from the STLFC Head Athletic Trainer Mr. Brian Bounds MPT, ATC, LAT, CSCS. We spend a lot of time working with athletes to both rehabilitate and loosen them up before practice and games. This has made it so that the experience is far different from what I have experienced before. I used to depend on primarily tape and doing exams on athletes with modalities as a main treatment option. After working with Mr. Bounds for a while I can say with confidence that I understand the importance of using your hands to release muscles and deep tissue. It is something I don’t think I would have experienced anywhere else and is something I am looking forward to applying myself once I am a certified Athletic Trainer.
Aside from manual techniques I am also learning the importance of being professional in both appearance and in action. One quote that I will always carry with me is “Your Athletic Training room and your environment are a direct reflection of yourself, and are important in your appearance as a professional.”
I have already gotten more than half of my requirements finished at this site, but I don’t plan on leaving until the very last second so that I may continue to learn and develop from what I believe is my dream clinical site.
Students in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program have an immersive field experience in the summer between their two professional years in the program. This blog post details a student's reflection on their experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment