Building a Positive Relationship Between Athletic Trainer, Coaches
The professional relationship between a secondary school athletic trainer (AT) and the coaches they work alongside is one of the most important partnerships in any athletic program. In an ideal world, this relationship is rooted in trust, shared goals, and an open channel of communication flowing in both directions. But in reality, developing this kind of alignment is not always automatic or easy. When the AT and coach are not fully on the same page, communication can feel overwhelming, unclear or even adversarial.
Despite those challenges, both sides share the same fundamental objective: keeping athletes healthy, prepared and performing at their highest possible level. The coach focuses on developing athletic skills, game strategy and team culture. The AT ensures athletes remain physically able to participate safely. Their roles are different, but their purpose is the same and when both sides commit to collaboration, the athlete benefits significantly.
Building a positive, productive relationship takes intentional effort. The secondary school setting presents unique barriers to communication. Unlike many collegiate settings where ATs may work with only one or two teams, secondary school ATs often manage multiple sports, practice locations and schedules daily. An AT may interact with eight, ten, even twelve different coaching staffs in a single week. Conversely, coaches at the secondary level are often full-time teachers with limited availability during the school day and competing demands long after the final bell rings. These realities can make communication more difficult, but not impossible.
In spite of these constraints, strong communication channels can be developed through consistent, small-scale efforts from both sides. These daily actions compound over time, strengthening the overall athletic program and supporting the holistic development of student-athletes, not just as performers, but as teammates, leaders and young adults.
Building the Foundation: Forming the Relationship
A base relationship between the athletic trainer and coaching staff serves as the bedrock for every future interaction. Just as a coach studies film or an AT progresses an athlete through stages of rehab, both sides need to understand how the other works. Getting to know one another’s communication style, expectations and priorities makes future conversations more efficient and effective.
Athletic trainers can strengthen their relationships with coaches in simple but powerful ways:
Be part of the staff. Spending a few minutes with coaches after games, being included in the staff group chat, or attending occasional team meetings creates natural rapport. These informal interactions build trust and contribute to a sense of shared mission. (As a bonus, staff group chats often contain updates the AT needs anyway, making them a valuable communication tool.)
Show investment in the program. When an AT demonstrates genuine interest in the team’s success, the coaching staff notices. Body language, presence at key games, and even small conversations about performance communicate that the AT cares about the athletes and the results. When coaches and athletes see that care, trust naturally strengthens.
Coaches also play a meaningful role in building the relationship. Including the AT in staff communications, inviting them to occasional team functions, or providing a team shirt or spirit wear can send a powerful message that the AT is part of the program, not a separate entity. These gestures build goodwill and make collaboration easier and more natural.
Both the AT and the coach should avoid public negative statements about each other or their programs. Negative statements can be detrimental to not only the programs but also the reputation of the person. When the inevitable issue arises, it should be handled face to face and behind closed doors. Loyalty in athletics is very important and public disparagement of either the AT by the coach or the coach by the AT flies directly in the face of the loyalty that is so important in the athletic realm.
Communication: The Structure Built on the Foundation
Once a positive relationship is established, communication becomes the framework built upon that foundation. Effective communication keeps everyone aligned, reduces confusion, and prevents small misunderstandings from turning into bigger conflicts. Communication strategies don’t have to be complex and often – the simplest tools are the most impactful.
Two effective communication practices for athletic trainers include:
Daily treatment or status reports. Sending a quick update each day helps coaches plan practice, structure drills and anticipate needs. These updates also serve as helpful documentation for the AT, adding an extra layer of clarity and accountability. The AT should avoid using overly medical terminology. The coach may not need to know the exact ligament that was damaged in a player’s ankle, but he does need to know if the player has any athletic restrictions.
Using multiple modes of communication. Written updates such as texts or emails create a clear record to reference later, but pairing these with brief in-person reminders can prevent misunderstandings. A quick, friendly “Coach, remember that No. 22 is limited today” ensures the message is received and reduces frustration on both sides.
When both parties understand how and when each will communicate, misunderstandings decrease dramatically.
Managing In-Game Communication
One of the most frequent challenges in the AT-coach relationship occurs during competition. Emotions are high, decisions must be made quickly, and communication can become tense. A coach urgently asking, “Are they good to go back in?!” may sound confrontational, but often the tone reflects the moment, not frustration with the AT.
In these situations, the AT has the opportunity to de-escalate the conversation by focusing on the central question. Using evaluation skills and responding clearly with “Yes, they can return,” “let’s hold them out for now, but I will re-evaluate them in X amount of time” or “No, they’re out for the rest of the game” keeps the situation grounded. Removing emotion from the response prevents conflict, protects relationships and keeps the athlete’s safety at the forefront.
If tone or delivery needs to be addressed, it is far more productive to do so after the game or the following day, when emotions have cooled and everyone can discuss the situation constructively.
Grapevine High School Head Baseball Coach Jimmy Webster, a two-time Texas state champion, highlights the importance of patience and initiative:
“Stick with us. Don’t get frustrated immediately when we drop the ball or fail to contact you first. Don’t be hesitant to take the initiative to communicate. We have a lot on our plate, but recognize so do you as well. We just ask for a gentle reminder before getting frustrated with us.”
Navigating Inevitable Challenges
Even in the healthiest relationships, communication breakdowns happen. An AT must sometimes deliver news about a season- ending injury. A coach may forget to update a schedule or miscommunicate about a practice time. While these moments are frustrating for both sides, they are inevitable in a busy school environment.
The difference between conflict and collaboration often comes down to the strength of the relationship and communication patterns already established. When the foundation is solid and the communication habits are in place, both sides tend to approach these challenges with more understanding, less defensiveness, and a shared desire to correct the issue and move forward.
Kate Goldberg, head girls basketball coach and girls athletic coordinator at Keller (Texas) High School, reinforces this with her advice:
“Take the time to get to know your coaching staff on a personal level and stay invested in their program and their athletes. Strong communication comes from strong relationships, and when that foundation is in place, the working environment stays positive and productive even when things get stressful.”
A strong, cooperative relationship between athletic trainers and coaches creates a better work environment for everyone involved. But the greatest beneficiaries are the student-athletes. When the adults responsible for their development communicate openly, trust one another, and work from a shared foundation, athletes receive consistent, coordinated care. They see adults modeling healthy communication, problem-solving and teamwork – skills that extend far beyond sports.
At its core, bridging the gap between athletic trainers and coaches isn’t simply about avoiding conflict. It’s about creating an environment where every athlete can thrive. When ATs and coaches commit to building relationships, communicating clearly and supporting one another’s roles, the entire program grows stronger and the athletes reap the rewards.
Tiffany Phillips M Ed, LAT, ATC, is the head athletic trainer at Grapevine (Texas) High School.
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