I go back far enough to remember coaches that withheld water to athletes as punishment or as a way to toughen us up. I won't even go into my encounters with my college baseball team's athletic trainer. He was branded with the nickname Pinky after turning many of uniform pants and sanitary socks pink after washing them in hot water with our scarlet and gray jerseys. My trainers were as lovable as incontinent crocodiles with pink eye. Times have changed Fortunately, for today's athletes, times have changed dramatically.
Athletic trainers are much better trained and more specialized.
The men and women wearing their Batman-styled belts with a multitude of remedies for injured athletes are no longer to be feared. Portwood also credits Pine Ridge High School with having a well-developed athletic training program. Mainland also incorporates wellness and fitness and sports administration into its program. Portwood said the school also plans to implement a broadcast and journalism segment into the program for students considering careers in sports information and public relations. Portwood said his program runs so smoothly because he has the luxury of two other certified trainers at Mainland who assist him.