Sports Med & Performance | Collegiate School

Athletics

"My role as a Sports Performance coach is to challenge and inspire our athletes to develop the physical, mental and emotional capacity to maximize their potential. But, most importantly, I am mentor and role model, helping them grow into young men and women of the highest character that go on to be positive contributors to society." Will O'Brien,
^{Associate Athletic Director
Sports Performance Head Coach}

Chris Peoples

^{Sports Performance Assistant Coach}

"Our role as Athletic Trainers is different from any other healthcare professional, in that we care for student-athletes prior to injury all the way through full return to sport. It is important to us that our student-athletes return to sport from an injury with a better understanding of prevention and how to care for themselves through lifelong physical activity."
Shannon Winston,
^{Head Athletic Trainer}

Andy McPherson,
^{Associate Athletic Trainer}

Sports Performance

The Sports Performance program is designed to support the the overall athletic program in the pursuit of competitive excellence through enhancing athletic performance using a systematic and progressive approach to the total conditioning process. The program is based on sound principles, sport science and experience based practice. Development of the training program is a team effort involving input from the sport coaches, athletic trainer and athletes. Each training program takes into account individual athletes’ needs in the pursuit of personal, team and season goals. With an emphasis on quality coaching and planning, we strive to maximize athletic potential, reduce injuries and develop confident, adaptable athletes prepared for success in athletics and in life.

Athletic Training

The Collegiate Athletic Training Program exists as part of a comprehensive health and safety program for our students. We are committed to providing evidence-based quality healthcare for our students through education, injury prevention, emergency care, injury evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation and return to sport assessments. Our Athletic Trainers are board certified by the National Athletic Trainer's Association and Licensed Health Care Providers in the state of Virginia. We work closely with our school nurses, strength coaches, local doctors and physical therapists to help manage a wide range of injuries. Our Athletic Trainers are available at all home games and practices for our Cub, JV and Varsity teams; we also provide coverage for all Cougar Sports Zone activities and Summer Quest sports camps.

Concussion Management at Collegiate School

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 200,000 people in the United States suffer concussions while playing sports every year. Collegiate School has two full-time Athletic Trainers who are highly qualified and trained to evaluate and manage concussions.

Each year our Athletic Trainers administer a baseline cognitive test called ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion and Cognitive Test) to all rising 7th Graders. This computer-based test measures immediate and delayed memory, reaction time, processing speed and concentration. The objective data is one of the tools we use to determine a student's readiness to return to physical activity following a concussion.

Our Athletic Trainers also use several sideline tests to help manage concussions. The King-Devick Test (KD Test) measures rapid eye movement, visual tracking and related cognitive responses. It is an accurate and reliable method for identifying athletes with head trauma.

The SWAY balance test is an FDA-cleared mobile balance system that monitors for signs of balance-related dysfunction. Sway Balance measures stability using the built in motion sensors of any iOS mobile device to quantify postural sway. It can also accurately assess cognitive function with quick and easy tests of visual processing, reaction time and memory.

The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5) is another concussion management tool we use for assessing signs and symptoms, memory, orientation and concentration.

These tests are used to determine if any head trauma exists, the severity of the symptoms and readiness to return to physical activity. Concussions are complex, invisible injuries. These evaluation tools offer objective data and guidance for our Athletic Trainers as they have to make difficult decisions to sideline an athlete for their safety.