Powell High School has been honored for its efforts to keep student-athletes safe.

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) recently gave PHS its Safe Sports School award. The award “champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports” and “reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment,” the association says.

Powell High School is one of only a few schools in Wyoming to earn a 1st Team award, for acting on all the criteria required and recommended by NATA.

Athletic/Activities Director Scott McKenzie said PHS officials are honored to receive the recognition.

“We remain committed to keeping our student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices, and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship, and good health,” McKenzie said in a statement. “Our goal is to lead our athletics program to the highest safety standards for our players.”

NATA President Tory Lindley said his association created the Safe Sports School award to recognize and champion schools that are committed to improving safety.

“The health and safety of student-athletes is critical as it has both immediate and long-term effects,” Lindley said, adding, “We are proud to see the list of award recipients grow exponentially each year as schools see the immense value in holding themselves to best practices and policies that ensure a high standard of athlete care.”

In order to achieve Safe Sports School status, Powell High School had to:

• Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
• Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations
• Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities
• Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment
• Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes
• Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions
• Provide or facilitate injury intervention
• Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
• Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education
• Be sure athletes and parents are educated about the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities

To apply, schools complete an in-depth questionnaire that assesses adherence to best practice standards and recommendations. McKenzie said he and PHS athletic trainer Alan Hill submitted the school’s application, with Hill deserving the majority of the credit for taking it on.

For more information, visit www.athletictrainers.org.