Georgia State Athletics first responders are our sports medicine staff within each sport.  They are the unsung heroes that keep a team glued together, sometimes with medical tape and scissors, but they do it.  They really have a special bond with the student-athletes, and with that bond comes responsibility.   Sometimes they are the barer of awful news and other times integral in getting an athlete back to competing.  The success stories are motivating and the career ending injuries are equally devastating, but the current climate helps keep everything in perspective.  

Fast forward to today and imagine being tasked with continuing rehabbing the student-athletes in a contactless time, a lot of changes had to be made in order to keep kids progressing to once again put on the blue and white and compete (whenever that happens).  People don't like change, mix in an injury and breaking up a regimented routine in a matter of hours, makes for an incredible task.  "Easier said than done", said Bob Murphy, Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and Nutrition.  "We had two goals in mind when all of this went down, outside of the obvious of keeping everyone safe.  The first was to make sure those that are rehabbing are continuing to get the services they need, and second for the ones that aren't rehabbing, to supply them with opportunities to remain healthy (and out of trouble)".      

First up was figuring out which facility to operate out of, then implementing some new ground rules and after reaching out to local hospitals, doctors offices as well as the CDC guidelines some new rules were made.  Bob and his staff came up with a few questions about respiratory health and temperature check, less than 10 people in a room at one time (which includes some crazy scheduling), a 6 foot buffer when applicable, and in the event there needs to be contact with the student-athlete for rehab, gloves are used and hands are washed before and after.  

The Sports Medicine staff is comprised of 14 certified athletic trainers who are the shoulder to cry on, the motivator, the friend, the enemy, and most importantly the caregiver.  This group is so important in the success of our student-athlete's as well as their overall well-being.  They are the first to the scene to assess a student-athlete when they are injured on the playing surface.  As first responders, police, firefighters, nurses, grocery works, delivery drivers, etc. are getting an appropriate contactless pat on the back or fist bump for doing a great job as unsung heroes, go ahead and add Georgia State's Sports Medicine staff to that Thank You list.  The timing couldn't be better as we close out March as it's "National Athletic Training Month".