Trainers Treat Blood, Sweat, Tears

But one day in the life of Styers - or any other of the 470 University undergraduates majoring in exercise and sports science, with a focus on athletic training - reveals there's more to being a trainer than toting water from the sideline to resting football players.

With tasks ranging from applying splints to icing sprains, these students get closer to athletes than most diehard fans.

"To an extent, we feel like a part of the team," said John Slatky, a sophomore trainer.

Students can concentrate on one of four areas related to the major: sports administration, exercise physiology, sport psychology or athletic training.

Once students select the athletic training track, they must complete five semesters of clinical training with a variety of sports teams before earning a degree.

They work with high school athletics, UNC sports teams, in- and out-of-season teams and high- and low-risk sports, said Kevin Guskiewicz, director of the Athletic Training Program.

"It's important that they have the opportunity to experience athletic training so they'll be able to be professional in their field," Guskiewicz said.

Students are required to spend at least 200 hours per semester assisting their teams, adding two to four hours of work each day for these students.

"They lead very structured lifestyles. It takes a lot of responsibility," Guskiewicz said. "They grow up in a hurry."

Exercise and sports science is not a major for students who are not morning people. The department rarely offers courses after 11 a.m. to make sure students' schedules do not conflict with athletic practice schedules.

Once a week, Slatky's day begins before his first class even starts. At 7 a.m. he enters the Kenan Stadium training room to treat any injuries a football player might have.

When classes are over, Slatky returns to the training room at 4 p.m., two hours before the team begins practice.

His main responsibility is to lend a hand to the team's 26 defensive backs, from easing a strained neck muscle with an ultrasound and taping ankles to providing rehabilitation to players with more serious injuries. "We're here to learn," he said. "This is like class for me."

On game days, Slatky puts this knowledge to use. And while he might have the best seat in the house at football games, Slatky said he cannot relax during what he calls "organized chaos."

He makes sure the players are hydrated while keeping an eye on the action to spot potential injuries. "Our goal is not to miss anything, because that means someone's playing with (an injury) that might get worse," he said.

Due to the demands of football, Slatky said he would get in about 500 clinical hours this fall. More than 200 of those were earned in just the pre-season when he tackled 12- to 14-hour workdays, six days a week.

For Styers, who is juggling a full course load and clinical hours while in the middle of writing her senior thesis, the schedule does not leave room for much else. "A lot of times, I feel stressed out, but, at the same time, I'm being productive," she said.

Styers will accumulate more than 300 hours this semester at Cary Academy, a private school for grades six through 12. She drives there four days a week to attend games and practices for all the school's fall sports.

At the school, her hours are occupied by four main aspects of athletic training. "Prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries - those are the big things that we do," she said.

Student trainers can take an exam in the spring of their senior year that will qualify them as certified athletic trainers.

Styers said she hopes to receive her certification in April. Right now, she is applying to physical therapy schools to earn her master's degree.

While she admits easing strains and forming rehabilitation plans are challenging and time-consuming, Styers said the major is a great way to combine her love of sports with her interest in medicine and physical therapy.

"It's a wonderful experience," she said. "But you have to know that's what you want to do."

Slatky echoed her sentiment. "This is a fun job. Here, we're learning what we'll be doing for the rest of our lives."

The Features Editor can be reached at features@unc.edu.