High School Coaches' Perceptions of Their Responsibilities in Managing Their Athletes’ Injuries

Kellie L. Stapleton, Charlotte M. Tomlinson, Katherine Shepard, Valerie A. Coon

The purpose of this study was to ascertain coaches' perceptions of their responsibilities in managing their athletes' injuries. Thirty high school interscholastic coaches were interviewed from the South San Francisco Bay area of California. Coaches were asked six open-ended questions regarding their responsibilities and abilities for athletic health care and opinions about certification and liability. Results of this study indicated that coaches shared similar perceptions concerning their responsibilities. The similar perceptions involved conditioning and warm-ups for preventative care, administration of first aid for immediate injury care, and adherence to physician prescription and administering modality treatments for rehabilitative care. There were few significant differences regarding coaches' perceptions of their responsibilities. Findings from this report suggested that athletic health care at the high school level should be upgraded, and more health care professionals need to be involved in assisting coaches in providing athletes with optimum health care.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1984;5(5):253-260.

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