So, you are really asking them to give up their committment to the basketball
team to fulfill their clinical assignments?

Hard not to sound judgemental, but I don't understand why this is necessary. Can
you not modify your clinical rotations to accomindate these or any other
athletes? We always try to make sure that fall athletes complete their clinical
responsibilities in the spring, and vice versa. Basketball players are allowed
to fit in their clinical work prior to or around the start of basketball season.
I think if we ever tried to force an athlete to give up their sport, they would
rather quit athletic training than their sport. Yes, some do have to consider a
5th year, but it would be to complete their academic work, not their basketball.
To put this in context, we compete at the NCAA D III level, and things may be
different at your school.

As we ask questions as to why athletic training students quit our profession, we
need to look at the flexibility of our programs. If we are unable or unwilling
to be accomidating to the "other" priorities of our students, we risk alienating
them and driving them away from the profession. And especially when they are
athletes, they may be the best prospects for future athletic training
professionals.

Respectfully,

Paul Alvarez, Ph.D, ATC
Professor of Movement & Sports Science
Athletic Training Clinical Supervisor
University of La Verne
alvarezp@...
(909) 593-3511, x4259