Athletic Trainer

2024-2025 Medical Eligibility

It is required for ALL student athletes to be cleared for any out-of-season or in-season participation. All forms must be dated on or after April 1, 2024 and be on file with the Athletic Trainer to be eligible for the 2024-2025 athletic season. All physicals and required paperwork can be turned in via the Dragonfly Max application. No hardcopies will be accepted for clearance.

Parents must create the dragonfly account and submit all paperwork and electronically sign forms. If athletes electronically sign forms the paperwork will be rejected.

The NMAA physical packet must be used to gain clearance. No other forms will be accepted for clearance. All required forms can be found in the NMAA Physical Packet, downloaded below under the "Important Forms" section, or downloaded from Dragonfly. The link to the NFHS concussion for students course is under the "Important Links" section below.

To be cleared for participation the following must be completed, uploaded, reviewed, and then approved by VVHS Admin in Dragonfly:

• The Consent to the Disclosure and use of Personal Health Information form
• Emergency Contacts Form
• APS Athletics Participation Consent Form
• PPE Health History form (2 pages)
• PPE Physical Exam Form
• PPE Medical Eligibility Form
• Consent to Treat Form
• Concussion Information in Sports Form
• NFHS Concussion for Students Certificate
• Emergency Contact Information must be entered in Dragonfly
  • Please enter 2 current parent/guardian emergency contacts in Dragonfly
• All medical tabs must be answered in Dragonfly
  • Tabs: Insurance, General Info, Heart Health, Bone and Joint, Medical Questions

Athletic Injuries

Going to a doctor, chiropractor, or any other healthcare provider for an athletic injury?

Please take a copy of the VVHS Physician Evaluation Form below. Have your healthcare provider fill it out and then turn it into Mr. Ochoa.

If you have a skin condition and are going to the doctor, take the Wrestling with Skin Lesions form to the doctor, have them fill it out, and then turn it in to Mr. Ochoa.

Nutrition Guidelines for Practice and Pregame

Nutrition is often overlooked as a potential competitive edge possibly because it is poorly understood. It has been shown that proper eating before exercise improves performance. It is also important to be well hydrated before the exercise session. Too many high school athletes head off to school without eating breakfast, lunch may be a slice of pizza. At this point they, with very little fuel in their system, they are not prepared to be their best at game time or even practice.

Some signs that an athlete may not be eating enough to fuel their performance are:

• Difficulty paying attention in practice or in a game
• Weight loss
• Fatigue before the practice or games have been completed
• Injury or frequent illness

Nutrition Tips

To help athletes achieve peak performance it is important to promote healthy eating and adequate fluid intake. Encourage athletes to take time to eat breakfast everyday. Remind your athletes that lunch for many of them will be their pre-game meal and to eat accordingly. And for some athletes, lunch may be as early as 10:30 in the morning and they may not be eating again until after practice or after the game. The size of the meal or snack eaten before exercise is important because adequate time is needed for digestion. A meal or snack that is high in protein and/or fat will take longer to digest. Years ago a typical pre-game meal was steak and eggs which is mostly protein and fat. Many studies have confirmed an ideal pre-game meal should be predominantly carbohydrate. Eating foods high in carbohydrate can maintain blood glucose levels during exercise and provide fuel for the exercise session. The closer it gets to game time or practice, the smaller the meal or snack should be.

The body must have the proper fuel for peak performance; there are no substitutes for good nutrition. Some athletes may be tempted to try an energy drink as a quick pick me up before they compete. There are no quick fixes, including energy drinks, for not eating and drinking adequately during the day. Keep in mind some of these energy drinks may be too high in caffeine to be considered a healthy choice (have your athletes read the label). They should not take the place of healthy meals and adequate fluids during the day.

Pregame Nutrition Guidelines

• 4 or more hours before game: Sandwich with lean meat such as turkey or ham, fresh fruit or juice, low fat milk or low fat yogurt
• 3 hours before game: Fruit or juice, bagel or toast with a little peanut butter, light cream cheese or margarine or cereal with low fat milk and fruit
• 1-2 hours before game: Fresh fruit or fruit juice or a sports beverage

Foods higher in fat and protein such as steak and eggs, pizza, nachos, and hot dogs will leave the stomach very slowly and be unavailable for fuel during exercise and should be avoided immediately before exercise.

To help keep athletes well hydrated, encourage them to:

• Stop at the drinking fountain between classes
• Bring a water bottle to school and to practice so that they may take frequent water breaks
• Drink fluids with their breakfast and lunch

During practice and in game situations to drink during time outs or breaks in play, and to drink even in they claim they are not thirsty (since thirst is not a good indicator of hydration).