National Trends in Athletic Training Service Provision in U.S. High Schools: A Five-Year Longitudinal Assessment

This study examined 5-year longitudinal changes in athletic training services in U.S. high schools. Variables included per-school averages of student-athletes, sports, athletic trainers, full-time athletic trainers, and part-time athletic trainers; weekly average of total contracted and actual athletic training services hours; and ratios of student-athletes:athletic trainers, sports:athletic trainers, contracted athletic training services hours:student-athletes, actual athletic training services hours:student-athletes, contracted athletic training services hours:sports, and actual athletic training services hours:sports. Over 5 years, student-athletes increased by 20.02, sports by 1.14, athletic trainers by 0.03, full-time athletic trainers by 0.10, contracted athletic training services hours by 3.63, actual athletic training services hours by 3.03, and sports: athletic trainers by 0.69, while part-time athletic trainers decreased by -0.10 (all P < 0.050). Despite increases in student-athletes and sports, athletic trainers, contracted athletic training services hours, and actual athletic training services hours also increased, while student-athletes: athletic trainers, contracted athletic training services hours: student-athletes, and actual athletic training services hours: student-athletes did not significantly change (all P > 0.050). Our findings also suggest a shift toward full-time athletic trainer staffing, which is encouraging. This study provides valuable evidence for future athletic training services research and for improving policies on high school sports safety.