Colorado Rapids 1st Team Athletic Trainer & Player Development Athletic Training Coordinator

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment•Commerce City, CO

16h•$75,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Colorado Rapids Athletic Trainer will manage the day-to-day sports medicine operations for Colorado Rapids teams. The Colorado Rapids Athletic Trainer will implement & provide injury prevention strategies, injury evaluation, injury treatment and injury rehabilitation for players. The Colorado Rapids Athletic Trainer works under the direction and supervision of the Head Athletic Trainer, Team Physician and Technical Staff. The Player Development Athletic Training Coordinator will support and guide Athletic Training Staff at the R2 and Academy level.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four year university
NATABOC (or CATA) Athletic Trainer Certification
In good standing with NATABOC and a member of the NATA (or CATA)
Current professional CPR certification
Possess personal professional liability insurance
Individual must demonstrate professionalism, punctuality, and exhibit proper ethical behavior
Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills and the ability to work with a diverse group of individuals
Must possess the ability to adapt to unpredictable circumstances and handle a highly demanding work environment
Ability to prioritize responsibilities and multi-task effectively.
Ability to acquire or produce and maintain a valid Colorado driver’s license and meet company vehicle driving standards.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
A CSCS, NASM-PES, or equivalent certification is preferred
Knowledge of professional sports team operations, public relations, and/or sponsor relations is preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs as Certified Athletic Trainer in managing the health care of players.
Health care includes but is not limited to: first aid / emergency care, on-site injury evaluation, application of appropriate modalities, developing rehabilitation and prevention programs, as well as conducting rehabilitation and making medical referrals.
Maintain a complete and up to date roster of player health and participation records in the League-provided electronic medical record system.
Provide individualized Return to Play (RTP) Protocols that allows each athlete to progress safely back to full training.
Provide at home training programs for those not traveling, injured, or during cancelled session (due to weather).
Perform Daily Warm up/Cool down routines for both training and games as required to support performance staff.
Perform Activation/Regeneration sessions as needed (at home and away)
Order, maintain and inventory supplies and clinical equipment.
Keep athletic training room and clinic area safe, clean and organized.
Comply with all MLS and US Soccer medical policies and protocols.
Comply with OSHA Standards with regards to blood borne pathogens
Serve as a resource for Colorado Rapids Alliance Clubs
Provide ongoing education & educational resources to staff and community partners
Travel as required
Assist Technical Director and Academy Technical Director with any other duties as assigned.
Oversee evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation programming, and return-to-play (RTP) processes for Rapids players managed by Rapids 2 and Rapids Academy athletic trainers.
Ensure evidence-based practices are followed and adhere to in-house RTP protocols.
Promote collaboration, communication, and self-evaluation for optimal medical outcomes.
Onboard new hires and educate staff on club processes (e.g., injury reporting, workers’ compensation, emergency action plans).
Ensure medical coverage for all training, matches, and sanctioned Rapids 2/Academy events, including pre/post-treatment.
Establish and communicate Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), ensuring all ATCs, physicians, and coaching/support staff understand their roles during emergencies.
Create and implement growth plans for junior athletic trainers.
Encourage continuing education, including certifications, workshops, and conferences.
Conduct regular performance reviews for junior ATCs.
Set individual goals aligned with department objectives and track progress.
Provide guidance on clinical and administrative practices.
Organize in-house training/CEU events to enhance staff skills and keep them updated on best practices.
Ensure adherence to medical department policies and protocols.
Audit documentation, including injury reports, treatment logs, and RTP protocols.
Act as a liaison between Rapids First Team, Rapids 2, and Rapids Academy athletic training/PHP staff, coaching staff, club physicians, and front office.
Participate in interdepartmental meetings to align athletic training services with team goals.
Maintain detailed injury, treatment, and recovery records.
Prepare reports on team health trends and performance metrics.
Establish guidelines for using club funds and review team-related purchases.
Monitor the budget and ensure discretionary spending aligns with team goals.
Assist in creating new injury prevention programs based on team needs and injury trends.
Advocate for advanced technologies and innovative practices in athletic training.
Foster a positive and collaborative environment within the athletic training team.
Lead by example, demonstrating professionalism, adaptability, and commitment to athlete health.
Measure the percentage of athletes who remain injury-free throughout the season, as well as the recovery time and return-to-play success for injured athletes.
Track injury rate, number of injuries, type of injuries over the course of the season.
Use return-to-play data to measure recovery times for specific injuries and compare them to industry standards for similar injuries.
Set goals for reducing recovery times without compromising athlete safety.
Assess RTP success rate by tracking athletes’ physical testing data, MSK screen evaluations, training/GPS data, and match performance data and comparing it to pre-injury levels
Use regular surveys or feedback from the athletes to assess their satisfaction with the care provided by the athletic trainers.
Track the progress of the athletic trainers under AT manager’s supervision in terms of continuing education, certifications, and skill development.
Setting goals for each ATC to enhance their expertise (e.g., in new treatment modalities or injury-prevention techniques) can help ensure continuous growth.
Goal setting to achieve certain amount of certifications/CEUs completed or training hours in specific domain
Measure how well the team of athletic trainers collaborates with coaching staff, medical teams, and other stakeholders.
Setting benchmarks for regular communications (injury reports, routine meetings with coaching staff/peers) and monitoring communication timeliness
Monitoring Athlete RMS for daily medical documentation and creating shared document for injury and rehab program collaboration