Happy National Athletic Training Month!

It seems hard to believe that it's March already, but here we are, and this is our month!  I thought I would kick it off by throwing up some ideas on how to celebrate and spread the word about how awesome Athletic Trainers are!!!

1.  Posters or a bulletin board

Sure it's old school, but posters or bulletin board decorations are perfect for any area, be it clinic, classroom, or athletic training room.  They're easy and can be made to fit your audience.  You can put up something more serious in your clinic and then make something more fun in your athletic training room, or whatever you feel like!  The theme for this year is "Athletic Trainers Save Lives" so you may want to consider that as a theme for your board or poster. 

Tips:

• Start with a dark background so that you can use white printouts that are easy to read.  Red or blue for the NATA, or use your school colors!
• Keep it simple, people are more likely to read short fun looking things.
• Highlight areas of interest with bright colors, cutouts, or arrows.
• Use pictures if you have them!  I always put up pictures of me and my student aides at work.
• Have multiple ATCs?  Do a "meet your ATCs" section with pictures and short interviews!

2.  Raffle for ATC themed prizes

One of my favorite things that I do every year is a raffle for various prizes.  This year I'll be giving out three "I <3 my Athletic Trainer" t-shirts, NATA and GLATA post-it notes and pens, and a gym bag with our mascot on it!

Tips:

• Combine this with other things that you've got going on.  One great idea is to make a quiz to go along with your bulletin board or posters - in order to enter the raffle you have to score 100%
• Need extra money for your budget?  You can make your raffle a fundraising event!  Sell tickets  and use your proceeds to get something you need for your athletic training room like new small rehab equipment!

3.  Fact-a-day posts

You've got Facebook or Twitter or Google Plus or some sort of social networking media, use it!  Every day this month, post a fact about Athletic Trainers, who we are, what we do, how we operate, etc.  Need facts?  Check out the NATA website for materials!

4.  Funny pictures - when you're clearly too cool for the rest of this stuff

The internet savvy ATC might find all of the other options boring.  The obvious solution to this particular problem is to use those internet skills to create a mass of amusing ATC related macros and motivational posters.  For example, exhibit A:

 

By the way, I actually am Wonder Woman.  To quote this year's "Not a Trainer" poster, "We're trained in fitness, sports, computer applications - even parenting."  That sounds like a superhero to me!

Regardless of what route you decide to go, remember to have fun with it and if appropriate, really emphasize this year's theme.  Athletic Trainers DO save lives every day.  Whether you're getting people back to work, helping someone establish good nutritional and fitness habits, providing emergency care to an athlete, or just sitting and being an ear for a student, YOU are a life saver.