Athletic trainers are allied health professionals focused on the prevention, examination, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions associated with sport. They are uniquely positioned to affect the health and wellbeing of student-athletes. In particular, athletic trainers are well-positioned to be leaders in preventing sexual violence before it happens and shaping prosocial climates that promote healthy relationship behaviors on their teams and in student-athletes’ lives outside of sport.
In 2019, RALIANCE partnered with Michigan State University (MSU) to host an invitation-only listening session that brought together athletic trainers to discuss their role in preventing sexual violence. Our new report, Athletic Trainers as Leaders in Sexual Violence Prevention, draws on the perspectives of this group to outline the unique role of athletic trainers in the sport pipeline, opportunities athletic trainers identified to promote sexual violence prevention, and the supports needed to carry out this vision.