About CATS

History

The College Athletic Trainers' Society (CATS) was formed in 1992, by a group of college/university athletic trainers sensing that the athletic training profession was growing rapidly. Focus had shifted and broadened to numerous interest groups such as the clinical and high school setting. Little emphasis was being placed on the college/university athletic trainers. Self-interest groups representing those certified athletic trainers (ATC) involved with professional athletics were organized with great success. It became evident the college/university athletic trainers needed a vehicle to promote their interests.

A group of college/university athletic trainers headed by Donald Lowe met several times to address this need. The first meeting took place in Denver, Colorado during the 1992 NATA convention. Those athletic trainers attending were Lowe, Fred Hoover, Chris Patrick, Frank Randall, Jay Shoop, Randy Shrout, Timothy Neal, Daphne Benas, Sue Stanley, Bill McDonald and Al Green among others.

A working mission statement was soon developed. Additionally, Thorp, Reed and Armstrong, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was retained to serve as legal counsel. The firm's first charge was to incorporate the society. The society's initial goal was to inform college/university athletic trainers about CATS, its purpose, and mission thus creating a membership base. An annual symposium presenting critical issues facing college athletic trainers was to be conducted each year prior to the NATA convention.

CATS had success addressing issues such as fair employment laws, the rights of athletic trainers, health insurance issues, financial planning, athletic training coverage in the training room setting, etc. In June 2000, CATS held an annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee in cooperation with the NATA. Then 2001 and 2002 passed by with no annual meeting. There were questions raised about the future of CATS.

In June 2002, a breakfast meeting was held in Dallas, Texas to discuss the future of the society. In attendance were: Mike O'Shea, Ron Linfonte, Josephine Lee, Jody Jenike, Bob Murphy, Mike Mulcahey and Scott Oliaro. Donald Lowe and Maria Hutsick were also present to provide historical references. Many issues were discussed at the meeting. The most important discussion centered around the question, "Is there a need for CATS?" Additionally, the direction CATS should take was considered. It was agreed that CATS needed new leadership. These leaders were charged with focusing on today's needs. The mission and objectives of CATS, as important today as they were in 1992, would remain the same. However, it was obvious that college athletic trainers' needs have grown. Today, college athletic training faces new issues as well as the old ones.

The founders and all athletic trainers involved with CATS are committed to the success of the society. Today, we have a new slate of officers. This group is eager and dedicated to focus on issues that will help enhance the quality of life for the college athletic trainer. Each institution and its college athletic training staff still face dilemmas daily as they attempt to improve the quality of care they provide for their student-athletes. Relationships with college administrators need to be enhanced to help develop appropriate policies and improve risk management. CATS is a vehicle to promote these types of interests for the college athletic trainer while allowing us to communicate freely as an organized group.