In light of Super Bowl 50 last night (way to go Broncos!!), I have decided to write about the athletic trainers in Super Bowls. Particularly what they have to endure leading up to the Big Game and during it. I found an article from Super Bowl XLVI that outlined what the New York Giants athletic trainers did to prepare for the game. That Super Bowl was on February 5, 2012. But the athletic trainers started preparing on January 30, 2012, the day they flew to Indianapolis where the game was being held. The athletic trainers reported for early morning treatments before they flew out that day. They had meetings and then a bus ride to the airport. When they arrived at the hotel, some athletic trainers went to the practice facility to set up the athletic training room there, others stayed at the hotel and set up their room as an athletic training room. They brought 9 trunks with various supplies. They even brought 100 cases of athletic tape for the trip! Once set up, they had evening treatments. The next day, Jan. 31, 2012, there was no practice due to media day, but there were still morning and evening treatments. They had to go to the field for Media Day and team photos between those treatments. Feb. 1, 2012 there were morning treatments then they had down time before practice, so they got a lot of administrative work done. Before they left for the field, they had a quick treatment session. They left for practice in the afternoon, and upon arrival had to hurry into the ATR for light treatments and taping. They had only a half hour to tape and treat before practice. Can you imagine?! A half hour for who knows how many guys come in to be treated and taped! That's just crazy! They returned to the hotel after practice and did treatments until about 7pm. The next day, Feb. 2, they have morning treatments again and then have some meetings. There was practice in the afternoon and then families flew in. Night time treatments were not skipped with the arrival of families. On Feb. 3, the ATCs reported and found out that 10 people on the family plane had gotten sick, so they would need to be taken care of. Appointments with the physician liasion were made. Morning treatments were done, meetings were attended, and an overveiw of head and neck injury protocol was done. Another treatment session was held before going to practice. Practice was held and treatments were given after. Saturday, Feb. 4, the day before the Super Bowl... The ATCs reported an hour and a half earlier for morning treatments and then they had team walkthrough. They were done around 1 pm and reported to dinner at 6 and meetings after. Then it was bedtime! It's the night before the Super Bowl! How exciting!! Feb 5, 2012, Super Bowl XLVI... What a big deal!!! The athletic trainers had treatments in the morning, then they had to break down the training room that they had set up in the hotel. They boarded the bus at 2 pm and were police escorted to the stadium. Pre-game taping and treatment rituals were done when the players arrived, including a TON of manual therapy. After warm ups, they returned to the locker room for more taping and went over injury protocols. The game started, they had a few injuries to take care of, and then the game ended... The Giants were Super Bowl Champs again!! They celebrated and went back to the locker room. They had to take care of the injuries and then break down the training room again. They returned to the hotel and had an after party. The day after the Super Bowl, Feb 6, they were scheduled to leave early for the airport. Injuries were checked on, breakfast was eaten, and the bus was boarded. They flew home to New York... The game and the craziness was over. Feb 7, 2012, the NY Giants had the Super Bowl Parade down the Canyon of Heroes in NYC. But before the parade, the ATCs had to report for post season physicals. The parade started at 9am followed by a party in MetLife Stadium. The 2011 season had finally come to a close. The NY Giants were Super Bowl Champions, and the athletic training staff could finally get a day off.
Looking at the schedule of an ATC in the Super Bowl is just mind-blowing. They work around the clock! This was just 4 years ago, and I am assuming the Broncos and Panthers ATCs were the same this year. It is facinating the jobs that these people do day in and day out. The full article is posted below. When reading it, you really get a sense of what they go through. Check it out! Tell me what you think! Would you ever want to be an ATC working in the NFL? Would you want to endure all of the hours it takes to make it through the Super Bowl? I definitely would love this experience!!
http://www.atsnj.org/article/not-only-do-athletic-trainers-save-lives-they-also-help-win-super-bowls
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