Athletic Trainers: Taft High School employs two full-time athletic trainers. These individuals are licensed by the state of Texas and/or certified by the Board of Certification. They are here to insure that the student-athletes of Taft High School have the utmost care when it comes to their athletic injuries. They will actively participate in the prevention, treatment, and care of any athletic injury that occurs to your child during the course of their participation at Taft HS. Every attempt will be made by the staff athletic trainers to be in attendance for all high school athletic events. There are times, however, that all events that occur at the high school are unable to be covered due to overlapping varsity sporting events.
Medical Referral: If in the unfortunate event that your child will need a medical referral to a doctor someone from the Taft Athletic Training staff will contact you and let you know. As your child's parent, you are free to take your child to whichever doctor that you choose. Some events will have local doctors on site during Taft athletic contests. If your child becomes injured and is evaluated by a doctor at the event site, you are not obligated to continue your child's treatment with this doctor if further medical treatment is warranted. If and when your child is seen by a doctor for an injury or illness he/she are to bring a note from that doctor stating their activity level for both practices and games. This note is to be given to the staff athletic trainers at Taft. Once the note is received stipulating an amount of time for restricted/no activity level, it will be followed by the Taft Athletic Staff.
EXAMPLE: The student-athlete is held out of activity by an orthopedic doctor. To be released to full activity one of two things needs to happen. Either the amount of time specified by the doctor's note elapses, or the student-athlete is released by another orthopedic doctor.
It is important to remember that we as athletic trainers have the student-athlete's best interest in mind. We will not make a decision to allow a child to play if we feel that it will jeopardize their health simply to give their team a better chance to win.