By Erica Howell
The Grasp of Science in Athletic Coaching program at Outdated Dominion College goes past educating the basics of healthcare; it immerses college students in real-world environments the place they will apply and refine their expertise in a wide range of settings — from clinics to skilled sports activities.
This system’s nationwide scope allowed Zaynah Daley to pursue her ardour for skilled sports activities by securing a placement with the Dallas Wings, a WNBA staff based mostly in her desired location. This placement was not solely geographically superb for Daley however offered her with a wealthy panorama {of professional} experiences. From managing athlete vitamin to working inside staff budgets, her function went past conventional athletic coaching duties, encapsulating the multifaceted duties that include working within the high-energy world {of professional} sports activities.
Tom Campbell, director of Medical Schooling, explains that this system’s school actively interact with numerous healthcare and sports activities organizations to rearrange placements that align with college students’ profession aspirations.
“School attain out to websites to ask in the event that they’d be prepared to be a preceptor for college kids, then a contract is labored out,” he stated, emphasizing the adaptability of placements that vary from native clinics to nationwide sports activities groups.
Taylor McCormick’s expertise with the Scranton Penguins offered her with hands-on duties important for any athletic coach working within the high-stakes world {of professional} hockey. From getting ready therapeutic baths to administering emergency care like suturing gamers throughout video games, McCormick’s scientific rotation was crammed with invaluable studying moments.
Mentorship performs an important function in this system. Alumni like Kate Fitzgerald, now serving as a preceptor, present steerage, serving to college students apply their information in sensible settings.
“With the second-year college students, I allow them to take the lead with analysis and therapy and am there with them each step of the best way to assist in the event that they get caught,” Fitzgerald explains. Her assist bolsters college students’ confidence whereas enhancing their competence, getting ready them for his or her future careers.
The College’s athletic coaching program additionally encourages college students to interact in analysis. The mixing of analysis and sensible expertise ensures that graduates will not be simply expert practitioners but additionally contributors to the development of their subject.
This system equips college students with technical expertise wanted for achievement and instills in them the values of resilience and lifelong studying. It teaches the significance of balancing skilled calls for with private well-being — a lesson underscored by each Daley and McCormick as essential for sustaining a sustainable profession in athletic coaching.
As ODU continues to develop its services and strengthen its partnerships throughout the healthcare group, the School of Well being Sciences athletic coaching program prepares college students for future challenges of their careers and evokes them to grow to be the subsequent technology of leaders in athletic coaching — giving them the instruments to make their mark in thrilling world of athletics.
