March/April 2020 - 38

Operational
Updating Knowledge: Revising
an Athletic Training Textbook
By Timothy Neal, MS, AT, ATC, CCISM and Larry Cooper, MS, LAT, ATC
Contributing Writers
T
.he amount of knowledge in athletic training is
.ever-evolving. Learning new modalities, advanced
.techniques, and new skills are part of the athletic
training education and clinical landscape. Educating future
athletic trainers has become comprehensive and holistic.
Athletic training students and students of other health care
professions (e.g., physicians, physical therapists, physician
assistants), or exercise science students going into
strength and conditioning as a career, need an introductory
course in athletic training. Operationally, what are some
considerations in updating an introduction to athletic
training textbook designed to educate athletic training
students and a cross-section of health care professionals
and exercise science students? The authors are presently
involved in such an endeavor. What follows are some
thoughts on the process of collaborating and organizing the
updating of an introduction to athletic training textbook.
The authors, along with Kenneth Wright, D.A., AT
Retired, and Randy Deere, D.A., AT Retired, are the
four authors of " Basic Athletic Training: An Introductory
Course in the Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries "
(7th Edition), by Sagamore-Venture Publishing. The
authors have decades of athletic training experience
clinically and educationally. Three of the authors
(Cooper, Wright and Neal) are NATA Hall of Fame
members; Dr. Deere has received numerous awards for
his distinguished service to athletic training. Utilizing
their collective expertise, the authors collaborated on
reviewing the 6th edition of the textbook and mutually
36 | Training & Conditioning | March/April 2020
developed an updated version. The textbook is designed
to be used in an introduction to athletic training course.
The challenge operationally for the authors is how can the
textbook be updated to contain current athletic training
knowledge and subject areas, but not overwhelm the
student with the intricacies of content.
Several approaches were taken in achieving this
operational goal. Each of the authors independently
reviewed the 6th edition of the textbook, and offered
suggestions on editing the book based on removing
outdated knowledge and incorporating new knowledge
that a student being introduced to athletic training should
comprehend. Additionally, Mr. Cooper reviewed the entire
book and came up with additional topics to be included
in this edition. Once all of the authors were in agreement,
additional research was conducted to include the most up
to date information on the new topic areas. This occurred
in two different ways: (1) independent research and (2)
reaching out to content matter experts. Finally, the authors
divided up the chapters and assigned various chapters for a
second review, this time with more detail in certain topics.
The chapters were assigned based on the expertise of each
respective author.
A key ingredient in the success of this updated textbook
is the editorial board, which was the third operational step
of the revision. Selecting experts in various elements of
athletic training and medical care is essential in ensuring
the knowledge provided in the updated textbook is current
yet at basic levels. The editorial board for " Basic Athletic
March/April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March/April 2020
