Game Day

The past few days have been extremely memorable for me and my project. Thursday was a very slow day, because it was a "pre-game" practice, there was not too much to do, just get everything ready to move from the practice facility down to Quicken Loans Arena for their game Friday vs. the Milwaukee Mustangs. We also got a new shipment of AT gear (tape, wraps, bandages, etc.) that came in, so I spent a little time opening up the boxes and taking the stuff where they need to go. I was able to do some of the small medical things that were needed on thursday like covering up turf burns (which happen A LOT) and things of that sort, because there was no big-time jobs that needed to be done.

Friday was a COMPLETELY different story, and will be one of the most memorable days ever. My mentor wanted me to see the difference between Trainers in practice vs trainers in games, so I was allowed to get behind the scenes of the Gladiators game. I arrived at "The Q" at about 3:30, and went through the employee entrance, getting a pass that allowed me to go basically anywhere I wanted to go in the Arena. I then went down to the lower level, and went into the Gladiators locker room/training room, where I met up with my mentor. I met some of the team doctors, and people from NovaCare who come to assist with big injuries during the game, as well as one of his interns, who is was in Texas taking her certification exam and will be graduating from Kent State in a few days. Because it was game day, he wanted this to be more of a "watch and learn" type of experience, so that for the next home game I will know what is going on and can help him out better. I did some of the smaller work with water/gatorade and equipment, and watched as he did about 30-40 ankles and spatting. I did a lot of work with Ashley (his intern), which was good to see how someone who is still in college works in comparison to how Dean worked.

At about 6:45, the team took the field for warmups, and Ashley and I were both walking around the players with water and towels, making sure that no one needed anything. After they were done warming up, I went back into the training room to do a few last minute things, then went back out to the field for the start of the game. I was in the players box the whole game, which was an awesome experience. The only thing that I wasn't a fan of, is that I essentially had to watch the game from the Jumbotron because the players are so big! (I know I'm short, but for example, #74 Adam Tadisch, who is one of the players that I have gotten to know fairly well and have had conversations with, is probably somewhere in the vacinity of 6'5"-290lbs). When nothing injury-wise was happening, I went with Ashley out onto the field during timeouts and breaks in play and took water and towels out to the players. When something actually happened, I did the smaller work for Dean to try and get the problems settled as quickly as possible and get them back onto the field. After the game was over, I helped players with small things, and helped Dean clean up the box and the training room.

It was a really great learning experience, and was a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to learning how to do the bigger stuff so that I can be of more help come the 21st, which is their next home game.