History of Athletic Trainers

By DylanVizanko

  • Beginning of Modern Athletic Trainers

    James Robinson was the first athletic trainer and was nicknamed “trainer” for Harvard football and track teams. He dealt with minor injuries, and helped prepare athletes.

  • Samuel E. Bilik is born

    Samuel E. Bilik was a major influence in developing athletic trainers as specialists due to him writing the Trainers Bible which helped trainers learn more about managing athletic injuries. He was inspired by Herodicus who lived in the 5th century B.C., his claim to fame was that he was the teacher of Hippocrates of Cos, the “father of modern medicine.” Herodicus is given credit for being the “father of sports medicine” and the first physician to recommend exercise for the treatment of disease.

  • Athletic Training (Bible) Released

    This book sparked the roles of trainers, coaches, and physicians to emerge. This is considered the Holy Grail of athletic training.

  • Chuck Cramer creates the Cramer Chemical Company

    In 1918, Chuck Cramer started the Cramer Chemical Company (now Cramer Products) that produced a line of products used by athletic trainers.

  • End of WW1 marks start of college trainers

    Following WW1 colleges began to enlist trainers as they realized how important they were

  • Liniment is mass produced

    Liniment is medicated cloth to wrap the injured joint. Used to treat ankle sprains. This product was produced by the Cramer Family.

  • The 1st Aider is published

    This book was used for enhancement of communication between coaches and athletic trainers, and was written and published by the Cramer family.

  • Failed attempt to form NATA

    Failed in 1944 due to several reasons including World War Two, the lack of supporters, and poor communication in NATA.

  • NATA is founded

    NATA stands for National Athletic Trainers’ Association. The first meeting was held in Kansas City and these meeting became annual. The primary purpose for these meeting were to promote networking. NATA has grown to more than 44,000 members worldwide today.

  • Professional Educational Commitee for NATA is formed

  • The AMA recognized NATA for it’s efforts to upgrade professional standars

    AMA stands for the American Medical Assoication.

  • First undergrad curriculum approved for Colleges

    Only 4 schools started with these curriculums.

  • NATA forms certification exam for new employees

  • First graduate education curriculum approved

  • Samuel E. Bilik passes away

  • AMA recognizes athletic training as a credible health profession

  • NATABOC completes first role delineation

    NATA changed professional domains and educational requirements.

  • NATA establishes the Educational Council

    NATA established the Educational Council to dictate the course of educational preparation for athletic training students.

  • NATABOC completes second role delineation

    NATABOC determined roles of athletic training could be divided into six domains.

  • Third role delineation completed

    Althletic training was now set into six domains.

  • Athletic Training today

    Athletic Training has evolved in the past century and is now something that is crucial for athletes and their teams. Job settings for athletic trainers today include schools (college and high school), professional sports, and individual work such as personal training. The future is only getting brighter for athletic training as new jobs are emerging every year in different settings.