Sports Medicine
Two forms will be needed to be filled out by each athlete before participating in a sport
1. Athletic Participation Forms
2. Student-Athlete Information and Medical History Form
Athletic Training Emergency Action Plan (EAP) (PDF)
The Athletic Training Room will be located in the building of the athletic offices and gym at SGA.
ATHLETIC TRAINING
South Georgia Athletics Training staff will provide the best possible medical care for the student-athletes of the South Georgia Athletics. Working with those in the medical community, our goal is to maximize our ability to prevent, evaluate, treat, and rehabilitate athletic injuries while doing so professionally, efficiently, and service orientated. Our commitment is to provide quality health care while educating the student-athlete on good health practices and injury maintenance. All athletic injuries are to be reported immediately to a coach and athletic trainer for evaluation and care. After evaluating the reported injury, the coach, athletic trainer, and student-athletes will work together to treat the injury through appropriate means. It is the student athlete's responsibility to report back to the coach and athletic trainer if the injury becomes worse, persists, or if an outside physician is consulted. No athlete or injury is too insignificant to receive our utmost attention.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES AND SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU:
- Training room facility, located in the school and at the fields. Phone number (229) 621-2981
- Certified athletic trainers at all events- Team Physicians and Orthopedic specialists on-site or on call.
- Ice bags, water cups, First Aid/ ER supplies, and OSHA materials. The Automated External Defibrillators by the home team. SGA's EAP will be located in the training room.
- Electrotherapy, therapy, taping area, etc. available in the training room by use of an ATC or written request.
CONCUSSION EDUCATION
The South Georgia Athletics recognizes that concussions are a significant risk to those participating in athletics. A Concussion Management Plan has been developed to provide a protocol for identifying, evaluating, managing, and returning-to-play decisions for those student-athletes diagnosed with a concussion. Part of this plan involves educating our coaches and student-athletes to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, possible injury mechanisms of a concussion and the importance of immediately referring a student-athlete suspected of having a concussion for proper evaluation by appropriate medical personnel.
Please refer to the following educational link for helpful information on concussions:
Fact Sheet for Student and Coaches (PDF)
LOCAL HOSPITALS
- Archbold Medical Center ER (Gordon Ave, at, Mimosa Dr, Thomasville, GA) – (229) 228-2000
- Archbold Urgent Care (2705 E Pinetree Blvd Suit A) – (229) 228-4136
- Colquitt Regional Medical Center – (3131 S Main St, Moultrie, GA) - 229-985-3420-8000
ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM RULES:
Failure to comply with any of these rules may result in your removal from the athletic training room or revoke athletic training privileges.
- Athletes must either sign in or sign out.
- Athletes will be treated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- No profanity or other derogatory/abusive language.
- Athletes must shower before post-practice/game ice bath or modality.
- Return all equipment to the appropriate place when finished.
- All staff is to be treated in a professional, respectful manner.
- Only SGA student-athletes and staff are permitted in the AT room.
- It is the athlete's responsibility to get to practice/game on time.
- If an athlete is going to be late or cannot make an appointment, they must notify the athletic trainer immediately.
- Appropriate clothing must be worn at all times. No cleats.
- No shoes are to be placed or worn on the taping and treatment tables.
- Any athlete found not following these rules will be asked to leave.
All Student-Athletes must pass a physical exam before stepping on the field or court. You are not allowed to practice, play games, or condition without having passed a physical exam.
RETURN TO PLAY POLICY
Detailed information regarding our concussion policy may be found under the student-athletes handbook on the South Georgia Athletic website. This policy states that an SGA-approved team physician has the final authority regarding full clearance for student-athletes returning to play. The Athletic Trainers will choose all doctors. The NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook is used by the South Georgia Athletic and the NAIA, and the USCAA as a guideline for medical recommendations to ensure a safe and competitive environment for athletic participation.
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
In the event of an emergency, you may be called upon to help retrieve equipment and/or help with the direction of EMS services (ambulance or fire truck).
- The Spine board and straps are located behind the taping tables in the athletic training room (ATR).
- Crutches are located next to the storage cabinet in the corner.
- All athletes must have a physical done annually by an MD, DO, ARNP, or PA. The South Georgia Athletic does not currently provide a physical. You MUST get one independently. However, our paperwork must be used.
- A copy of your primary insurance card must be on file before you are cleared to participate.
- If you have asthma and use an inhaler, we will need an inhaler with your name on it in the ATR or one of our sideline kits. If you have allergies and have an epi-pen, we will need one with your name on it in the ATR or one of our sideline kits.
COVERAGE
- South Georgia Athletic provides secondary athletic accident coverage for its student-athletes participating in collegiate athletics. This policy provides coverage for outstanding medical bills incurred due to an athletic accident after your primary insurance coverage has been exceeded. But you must have a primary in order for this to work.
- An athletic accident is defined as an unexpected sudden, and definable event, which is the direct cause of bodily injury, independent of any illness, prior injury, or congenital predisposition. This event must occur during an SGA Inter-Collegiate Sports event.
- All bills must first be submitted to the student-athletes primary insurance for payment. The remaining balances and deductibles will then be submitted to the secondary insurance.
- Coverage is only extended for events and activities that are authorized, organized, or directly supervised by an official representative of the South Georgia Athletic. This includes practices and games during both the traditional and non-traditional seasons.
- The secondary insurance will only be applied after the student-athlete's primary insurance has been paid.
- Coverage is NOT provided for medical expenses resulting from illness, disease, or conditions unrelated to accidental injury while participating in intercollegiate activities at the South Georgia Athletics. The policy DOES NOT cover general medical illnesses or non-athletic related injuries or conditions. Additionally, preexisting conditions and routine medical care (eye care, dental care, or illness) are NOT covered.
- The benefit period for all eligible expenses is one year from the original date of injury. Failure to provide the necessary information in a timely manner may result in non-payment of the claim. This provision seizes when the injury has been deemed healed, to the extent reasonably possible.
- A claim submitted to the University for processing with our secondary insurance carrier does not guarantee payment of the claim.
- Student-athlete is responsible for making sure proper procedures required by their primary insurance plan are followed. Failure to do so can result in a denial of payment from SGA secondary insurance carrier. SGA is not responsible for out-of-network claims.
ATHLETIC ACCIDENT INSURANCE
The South Georgia Athletics Department requires all student-athletes to be covered by valid primary insurance from an American-based company.
- International students will have to enroll in a Student Health Insurance Plan; the South Georgia Athletic will provide different insurance options through its main carrier.
- No international or other insurance plans will be accepted for international students as their primary insurance coverage.
- The cost of this policy will be each student's responsibility.
- Domestic students have the ability to waive this policy with qualified health plans at the beginning of the academic year.
- If, at any time during the academic year, the student athlete's coverage changes or lapses, it is the student-athlete's responsibility to notify the athletic training staff and renew immediately.
- Student-athletes without current primary coverage will not be allowed to participate until updated coverage can be proven.
- The South Georgia Athletic will not be responsible for any expenses that result from a lack of primary insurance.
- All bills must first be submitted to the student-athletes primary insurance for payment.
- The South Georgia Athletic is not responsible for the payment of medical bills.
- Failure to follow the proper procedures for obtaining treatment and submitting bills may result in denial of the claim.
SUBMITTING CLAIMS
The Athletic Training Staff must submit the claim for your injury to the secondary insurance company. The insurance company will require additional information to process the payment. It is the responsibility of the athlete to submit all invoices and any other necessary paperwork for reimbursement. Please consult the Athletic Training staff for directions on how to submit invoices.
VISITING TEAM
If your team is traveling without an athletic trainer, please notify us in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements and provide coverage for your team. PLEASE SEND THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES WITH YOUR TEAM (TAPE, ACE BANDAGES, INSURANCE/EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION, etc.), and we will be glad to help your team get ready for their events. The training room will be open 2 hours prior to the event and 30 minutes after. Please give prior notice if your team will be training before and event so that we can accommodate your needs accordingly. Also, if you are planning on sending a certified or student trainer with your teams, please forward their names immediately via email.
If no ATC travels with the team, NO treatment will be given to a visiting athlete UNLESS there is a written prescription, written by the ATC, with them stating the type or amount of treatment given.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES AND SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU:
- Training room facility, located in the school. Phone number (229) -621-2981
- Certified athletic trainers at all events- Team Physicians and Orthopedic specialists on-site or on call.
- Ice bags, water cups, First Aid/ ER supplies, and OSHA materials. The Automated External Defibrillators by the home team. SGA's Intercollegiate Athletics EAP will be located in the training room.
- Electrotherapy, therapy, taping area, etc. available in the training room. By use of an ATC or written request.
