Opponent needed tape

[resdeal]

We played our first round playoff game at home vs a team that traveled 2.5 hours.  They arrived about 2 hours before the game.  When we took the field as a team about an hour before kickoff, our opponents head coach asked if we would have an athletic trainer at the game.  We don’t.  He said “Oh, we have some kids that need taped”.   We said sorry and went on with our pregame.  3 minutes before kickoff, a ball boy type kid from our opponent came to our sideline and asked for 3 rolls of tape because they didn’t bring any.  

[silkyice]

Nov 3, 2024 17:21:29 GMT -6 resdeal said:

We played our first round playoff game at home vs a team that traveled 2.5 hours.  They arrived about 2 hours before the game.  When we took the field as a team about an hour before kickoff, our opponents head coach asked if we would have an athletic trainer at the game.  We don’t.  He said “Oh, we have some kids that need taped”.   We said sorry and went on with our pregame.  3 minutes before kickoff, a ball boy type kid from our opponent came to our sideline and asked for 3 rolls of tape because they didn’t bring any.  

1) That is on them.

2) They should have brought a trainer.

3) They should have brought tape.

4) Their trainer should have called ahead if they were not going to be at the game and made arrangements.

5) Their coach should have called ahead if they don’t have a trainer and made arrangements.

6) The kids that don’t get their ankle taped will probably be just fine.

7) It is not y’alls responsibility.

8) But just send them to your trainer pre-game to get taped.

9) or just give them some tape.

[resdeal]

We gave them tape.

[theyoungballcoach]

"...our opponents head coach asked if we would have an athletic trainer at the game. We don’t..."

Wait, so neither team had an athletic trainer for a high school football playoff game?

[resdeal]

Nope.  There are not any trainers in our area.  

[theyoungballcoach]

Nov 4, 2024 10:36:06 GMT -6 resdeal said:

Nope.  There are not any trainers in our area.  

That's insane. Up here in Massachusetts, you can't play a middle school basketball game without one.

[larrymoe]

Most rural places have at least one trainer at games for liability reasons, but some don't. I don't believe it is a "requirement" of any sort in Illinois.

It was 14 years ago, but early in my career as a HC it wasn't unusual for us to go places without a trainer there on either side. Our trainer was a home game only guy at the time. And they only covered football. No other sports. Il

Hell, WAY back in the day in 1999 l, we didn't have a trainer at a school that now has an enrollment over 1000. I got really good at taping ankles that year. I probably could still do alright.

[coachwoodall]

There is a nation wide shortage of certified trainers.

We are lucky in that we have 3, but realistically need another 2-3 to handle all our school's games.

Back before they invented color I was our schools trainer because I took a class in how to tap an ankle........

[silkyice]

We have a trainer at all games. But for JV games and below, it is usually just whoever the home team is. So on away games, our trainer makes contact with the other trainer.

This is also true for every other sports varsity game. Basketball shares the home trainer included taping. Same for every sport besides varsity football.

I have to admit, trainers are freaking amazing people. They really need tons more praise.