April 24 Update:

  Following the release of the previous athletic trainer, the school administration continues the search for a permanent trainer for the student athletes as they still have not found one, according to Athletic Director Tyler Small. 

  Athletic trainers typically need a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Nearly all states require athletic trainers to have a license or certification; requirements vary by state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

  According to Small, the athletic department has connected with the Benioff Children’s Hospital. They have a service that they can provide athletic trainers, so they’re working with them to see if they can get someone for the rest of this year by having the job opening posted for them. The athletic department is looking for someone to be on site as soon as possible.

As of March 2, Piedmont Athletics is lacking an athletic trainer. Athletic Director Tyler Small said the athletic department is searching for a replacement as soon as possible.

“It’s been a week and a day without a full-time athletic trainer,” Small said. “We’ve been able to rely on Laney College for girls’ basketball state playoff games. We are in the process of interviewing a couple of candidates. Hopefully, we will get someone on board immediately.

Small said that while games do not require an on-site athletic trainer, playoff games do. Small said he wants someone who can support athletes’ day-to-day needs rather than injuries in games.

“Obviously, the big injuries are awful, and we deal with those, but for me it’s more the preventive, day-to-day measures,” Small said.

Small said that coaches have access to the trainer’s room for things like the Normatec and Game Ready ice.

“Some of our coaches are well-versed in how to tape an ankle, others not so much,” Small said. “We are working to try to fill those gaps.”

Small said he hopes a new trainer will be hired within the next week.