Through An Athletic Trainer’s Eyes: Communication

Communication can work for you or against you, and in the athletic training profession you need communication to be effective and efficient. It is important to have an open communication line between the athletic trainer and the coaches.  As Alex Zettlemoyer states, “The working relationship between coach and athletic trainer must be cemented in mutual trust and confidence that each is working for a common goal – a successful athlete³.” Effective communication means the information being shared has a purpose and value. Efficient communication allows the information to be stated in a promptly manner. The coaches at Eastland High School, like many other schools,  are always on the go. Finding the right moment to have a conversation with a coach can be difficult at times. When that moment comes the athletic trainer must be ready.

Here are some tips to have effective and efficient communication with coaches:

1. 
   Conversations should not be limited to discussion of injured athletes. Discussions with coaches should also include safety precautions, practice/game expectations, location/availability of the athletic trainer, and other relevant information³.
2. Be a good listener. Communication is not just about getting your point across, but also includes listening to the other person involved. Listening is not only a part of the communication process, but also is seen as a sign of respect. As an active listener, you are engaged in the conversation, meaning your responses reflect what the other individual has said¹.
3. Sometimes just get to the point. Working as an athletic trainer or coach, time is something we just wish there was more of. To have efficient communication it is important to be time sensitive. Get the message out in the shortest amount of time². Keep in mind short and to the point is not always better but may sometimes be necessary.

At Eastland HS, the coaches want straight to the point answers. “Can the athlete play or not?” type situations are frequent in the daily routine. There is a time and place to give details to why the athlete may or may not be participating in practice. In this case, the coaches receive a daily injury report giving details to an athlete’s injury and rehabilitation plan. This report gives the coaches the information they want and allows them to bring up any questions they may have.

“Efficient communication is most likely to be effective if there is pre-established, mutual understanding between the message maker and the receiver².” Communication is a working progress, and as the athletic trainer, it is key to build that relationship with your coaches in order to be successful.

References:

¹B, Z. (n.d.). 5 Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/improve-communication-skills.html

²Northridge, K. (2015, July 20). Effective vs. Efficient Communication. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/72079-effective-vs.-efficient-communication/

³Zettlemoyer, A. (2014, November 07). Coaches and Certified Athletic Trainers: An Important Relationship. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from https://nfhs.org/articles/coaches-and-certified-athletic-trainers-an-important-relationship/