School Sports Medicine Care

Our team of University of Florida certified athletic trainers and UF Health physicians, physical therapists and other health care providers from the UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute are committed to helping athletes prevent injuries and enhance their athletic performance. As one of the only health care teams in the area dedicated to sports medicine, we provide the latest advancements in preventing, evaluating, treating and rehabilitating injuries to help athletes stay at the top of their game.

Our team provides area high school, collegiate and professional sports teams with comprehensive health care that begins right on the playing field.

Our certified athletic trainers work with area school districts, coaches, parents, physicians and athletes to provide truly collaborative care. From educating players and coaches on how to prevent injuries to developing "return to play" strategies, our athletic trainers keep athletes safe and get them back into the game quickly and safely following injuries and illnesses.

Our athletic trainers are assigned to individual schools and work directly with coaches to provide their athletes the same types of care professional players receive. Athletic trainers attend scheduled practices, games, athletic training clinic hours and events as determined with the school's athletic director, and also are available to attend coaches' and parents' meetings to provide educational information and updates.

Our goal is to help athletes safely participate in sports while reducing the risk of injury or re-injury through identifying and addressing minor aches or pains that may develop into more serious issues. By discussing athletes' previous injuries or pre-existing conditions, certified athletic trainers can prepare for situations that may arise during the season and develop proactive programs for preventing injury. Should an injury occur, early treatment can help speed recovery, prevent more serious problems from occurring and prevent lost practice or playing time.

If an injury occurs on the field or court, our certified athletic trainers immediately respond and perform a thorough evaluation. If the competition, practice or event is "away" or during a time when our athletic trainers are not available, athletes should contact their certified athletic trainer. In the event of an emergency where our athletic trainers are not available, contact the athlete's physician immediately, or call 911.

At the UF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute, our team of primary care sports medicine specialists, physiatrists, orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists and radiologists collaborate to provide expert care and the full range of orthopaedic and rehabilitative services. UF Health physicians and trained staff care for some of the area’s top athletes and provide medical care for the University of Florida Gators, Santa Fe Saints and many local high schools.