Not all high school students are athletes, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be involved in athletics.  The Athletic Training Aide (ATA) program at Sturgeon Bay High School allows students to be actively involved in athletics from a different angle. 

The ATA program started three years ago during the 2016-2017 school year.  The program allows high school students to learn basic sports medicine skills and assist in after school coverage of the athletic training room as well as coverage of home sporting events with a certified athletic trainer.  The program is designed as a Varsity lettering program.  Students must complete at least 120 hours of after school and event coverage with a certified athletic trainer as well as complete assigned learning modules to qualify for the Varsity letter. 

Students are able to participate in the program year round or just during specific sporting seasons (Fall, Winter, or Spring) depending on their availability and participation in other extra-curricular activities.  All students who participate in the ATA program are CPR/AED/First Aid certified and also learn a lot of practical sports medicine skills like how to handle emergencies when it comes to asthma, allergic reactions, splinting of fractures or dislocations, and taping of common sports injuries to name a few.

During its first year, the program only had two students but has grown and currently has eight students who participate throughout the year.  Most of the ATA students want to pursue some sort of degree in medicine in the future and see the program as a great opportunity to gain knowledge and experience.  However, some students are just looking for a way to get involved with peers in high school and see the program as a fun way to be involved.