Grace Community School’s Athletics has been working very hard over the past few years to put the health and safety of all of our students first, and to provide the best medical care possible. As the school’s athletic trainer I am very proud to announce that we have been awarded the National Athletic Trainers’ Association “Safe Sports School 1st Team Award”. This is an award given to schools who are committed to providing the highest standard of medical care 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.
In order to receive the award our athletic program must do all of the following:
- 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

This award could not have been accomplished without the tremendous support from Joseph Walker, Athletic Director, to make sure our school has everything it needs to provide proper medical care to our students. Our coaching staff has also been crucial in implementing and enforcing all of the policies and procedures that have been in place to ensure the wellbeing of our students. I am so proud of where our program has come in these few short years, and I am very excited to see us grow and improve in the future.
Carson Powell
Athletic Trainer
Additional Resources
TAPPS Medical History Form, click here.
TAPPS Physical Form, click here.
To read more about concussion and traumatic brain injury, click here.
To read more about sudden cardiac arrest, click here.
To read more about Grace Athletics, click here.