Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio’s Sports Safety Program
“Keeping Young Athletes in the Game”

The Need

Athletic programs in the Duval County Public School (DCPS) do not have Licensed Athletic Trainers (LAT) for emergency care of athletic related injuries. This leaves our non-medically trained coaches in charge of making emergency medical decisions and is putting the safety, health and well-being of our student -athletes at risk.

Recently, our community has experienced the tragic deaths of two young athletes – deaths that might have been prevented if an athletic trainer equipped with an automatic external defibrillator had been present. These tragedies combined with undiagnosed sports injuries as well as concussions are happening across Duval County due to lack of trained athletic trainers being on site during our school sporting programs.

Athletics... Making a Difference

This proposed sports safety program addresses Coach Del Rio’s desire to provide meaningful interactions and mentorship to our inner city youth. Young people who experience the meaning of sportsmanship while caught in the grips of athletic competition receive an understanding of life that will help shape their own personal philosophies and enhance their lives in the future. “Keeping Young Athletes in the Game” is designed to provide optimum sports safety for our inner city youth and to encourage our youth to pursue sports activities, maintain a high level of physical fitness and experience the personal development through sports that builds character, self discipline and leadership.

The Solution:

“Keeping Young Athletes in the Game” sponsored by Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio and Community Partners

This three year pilot program will begin to address the immediate need for licensed athletic trainers to be on-site at all of our 17 inner city schools. It also creates a long range plan for permanent placement of athletic trainers in our public schools through the establishment of Jacksonville University’s Athletic Trainers’ Fellowship program where Fellows will earn the necessary teaching credentials.

This pilot program is a strong, innovative partnership that addresses the critical need for greater safety for our student athletes. Once the pilot program has demonstrated the need for qualified Licensed Athletic Trainers to be on-site in our schools, this model can be adapted to address the need going forward.

Concurrently this program will purchase Cardiac Science Automatic External Defibrillators for 16 community recreation programs and provide training for volunteer coaches. More than 10,000 children participate in community recreation programs. In most cases, these community recreation programs are managed and coached by local parents untrained in first aid or CPR.

The Budget and Our Partners

Three year budget is $393,620.

Current Partners are Coach Jack Del Rio in conjunction with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours, and the Duval County Public Schools. Together they have committed to $193,620. We need to raise an additional $200,000 dollars to fund the entire program. Additional sponsors of Fellows ($22,000 per year) have the potential to increase athletic training coverage beyond the initial scope of the program. This would would greatly enhance the program.

Jack Del Rio’s Sports Safety Program and Keeping Kids in the Game Sponsorship Levels:

• $80,000 over 3 years – Recognized as lead sponsor of program
• $44,000 over 2 years - Sponsor an Athletic Trainer Fellow for an inner city school for 2 years
• $22,000 for one year – Sponsor an Athletic Trainer Fellow for an inner city school for one year
• $8000 – sponsor a part time licensed athletic trainer for an inner city school for one year

All sponsors will be recognized according to gifting levels. The Jaguars will assist in the promotion of the program as well as Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Nemours.

Timeline for Program Implementation

Year I - August 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011

Year I will provide an opportunity for part time athletic training services for up to eight inner city public schools. Immediate Target Schools for the Part-Time Athletic Training Positions:

• Andrew Jackson High
• Raines High
• Ribault High
• Terry Parker High
• Wolfson High
• Englewood High
• Forrest High
• Lee High
• Ed White
  

Mentored athletic training services will provide coverage for athletic events based upon the DCPS athletic trainer coverage policy. This initial phase will provide a chance for the student athletes, parents and staff of these schools to become familiar with the benefit of athletic training services and provide for an immediate response to our challenging need of medically supervising athletic events.

Year II July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013

Inaugural ATC fellowship program sponsored by Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio’s Sports Safety Program “Keeping Young Athletes in the Game” beginning in the 2011/2012 school year thorough 2012/2013 school year.

Certified Athletic Trainers, UNF Graduates, will be placed in the Duval County Public High Schools to mentor sports safety programs for our student athletes. This placement within our schools helps to ensure that all student-athletes attain the highest potential for safe and effective participation in their chosen sports and address the need for this critical position.

While serving as Athletic Trainers, each fellow will be enrolled in JU Masters of Education in Sports Management and Leadership Program culminating with a Secondary School Teacher’s certificate. For an athletic trainer to be hired in DCPS system, a teaching certificate is required. This pilot program makes these fellows eligible for full time employment within our public schools.

Management: Each athletic trainer will be under the direct supervision of the Jacksonville sports Management Program ( JSMP). The sports medicine advisory committee in conjunction with the DCPS Athletic Director and Principals will oversee the operations of the program. The volunteer team physicians at all selected schools will be informed of this program initiative and will be asked to become involved at an advanced level to enhance the professional development of the athletic trainer and athletic training program.

Outcomes

I. Successful collaboration of major Jacksonville institutions together to develop a Sports Safety campaign to benefit our children in Duval County

Jaguars: Under the leadership of Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio, athletic trainers and students will benefit from Coach Del Rio and Jaguars’ mentorship, motivation; energy and the financial support will help bring success to the program. Highlight to the community the need for this level of care and dedication of our athletic programs and serve as a potential clinical rotation site for our fellow candidates.

DCPS: Opportunities to provide the needed medical supervision to save lives and keep our children safe while participating in sports. This opportunity also gives these schools, the chance to mentor potential future employees and create employment opportunities for our candidates.

UNF and JU: Currently graduates of the Brooks College of Health Athletic Training Program need an additional educational degree in order to be hired in the Duval County Public Schools. This proposed fellowship program will give these UNF graduates an opportunity to earn an advanced educational degree through JU’s College of Education. This advanced educational degree meets the teaching requirement required by the DCPS. through the College of Education, thereby, supporting a new degree offering at the University. Fellows may also rotate through the JU Athletic Department which will support the JU athletic training program.The program also provides sites for current undergraduate athletic training students ( UNF) to rotate as part of their clinical rotation requirements.

Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Nemours Children’s Clinic: This program addresses one of the leading causes of athletic related injuries and has the potential to impact literally thousands of young people in Duval County.

Medical Community: Physicians and other medical professionals such as physical therapists and physician assistants will serve as team Physicians, mentors and program supporters.

Fellows: Obtain an advanced education, mentorship through various organized opportunities and better prepare them to reach their personal and professional career goals as an athletic trainer.