An Editor's NOTE: We usually allow all editorials or opinions to appear as they were intended without being edited. Below is Steve's "Moore To The Point" as he submitted it. We however have been made aware of a discrepancy. We will leave Steve's copy as is, unless he requests that the info be corrected but we must point out the corrected information. The part in question was sent to us in this statement...."Steve has some misinformation in his "editorial" about the athletic trainers at Cookeville Regional. They are not under the direction of Dr. Williams but Dr. Greg Roberts."

Tennessee state law mandates that athletic trainers be certified by the state. In order to be in compliance with state law, a person who wishes to gain Tennessee certification has to be first certified by the National AthleticTtrainer's Association ( N.A.T.A. ) . Certification by the N.A.T.A requires completion of a 4 year college curriculum approved by the N.A.TA. followed by the passage of a comprehensive exam that is administered by the N.A.T.A. . Believe me, the exam is not easy. It contains a written and practical section testing your knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, exercise science, basic nutrition, psychology, prevention, care and treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Book knowledge and practical experience are paramount.

A certified athletic trainer always works under the direction of the team physician. In the case of the three certified athletic trainers employed by Cookeville Regional Medical Center and assigned to the 3 high school their directions come from Dr. Richard Williams, M.D. a Cookeville Orthopedic Surgeon. Upperman High School is currently without a trainer due to Joe Erdeljac becoming the trainer at TTU.

This time of year when area high schools are practicing in the heat and humidity, it is crucial to have a certified athletic trainer at practice. It should not be the responsibility of the coaches to monitor the players for possible heat illness or to modify the day's practice regarding intensity or time of day. That's the job of the certified athletic trainer. Nor should it be the job of the coaches to evaluate injuries. Football is a collision sport in which potential energy is transformed to kinetic energy . This energy has to be absorbed by the bodies of the players upon impact. Trainers have intimate knowledge of this process. The athletic trainers position may very well be the most important position on the team. .