Athletic Trainers are the Quiet Heroes on the Sidelines

Athletic trainers work on the sidelines, in gyms and in training rooms. They help prevent injuries and care for athletes when injuries happen. They also help athletes heal and return to play.

Tony Marra, MS, LAT, ATC, a UF Health Jacksonville athletic trainer, works with every sport at West Nassau High School, located in Callahan, Florida. He is part of UF Health Jacksonville’s orthopaedic and sports medicine team.

“High school athletic trainers wear many hats,” Marra said. “We’re the first line of care for student athletes. We prepare for emergencies and help with recovery after injuries. And we work as a team with coaches, doctors and families.”

One Friday night during a football game in August 2025 showed just how important that teamwork can be.

An important plan before game day

The football game was supposed to be played at West Nassau High School, but since they were getting a new turf field and construction was still underway, it was diverted to another school 15 miles away — Hilliard High School, located in Hilliard, Florida.

Before game day, Marra and a team member walked the field at Hilliard High School and reviewed the Emergency Action Plan, or EAP, with school staff and medical partners. The group compared Hilliard’s plan with West Nassau High School’s plan to ensure alignment.

They confirmed where emergency equipment was located, how to call for help and how to guide an ambulance onto the field if needed. “We always prepare ahead of time,” Marra said. “When everyone knows the plan, we can act fast and keep our athletes safe.”

Game day injury

During the game, a West Nassau running back named Gaven Carter got tackled and hit the ground. Right away, he knew something was wrong.

“I didn’t know exactly what happened to my leg, but I knew something wasn’t right,” Gaven said.

Marra and his team, as well as Andres Lopez, MD, a resident physician with the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, assessed the injury and kept Gaven calm and stable.

“Seeing the coaches and medical team respond so quickly made a difference. I felt good knowing people cared about me and were there to comfort me,” Gaven said.

At first, the tackle looked routine. But after a thorough assessment, Marra and Lopez discovered Gaven had a serious leg injury. Marra quickly initiated the EAP: student managers brought medical equipment, coaches cleared the field around Gaven and the opposing team’s athletic trainer stepped in to assist.

When the team realized the leg was fractured, Lopez manually applied traction by gently pulling and holding Gaven’s leg in a straight position to keep the bone aligned and protect nearby blood vessels.

Marra splinted and stabilized the leg, communicated with emergency responders when they arrived and helped guide the next steps for safe transport to the UF Health Jacksonville. His medical support and teamwork on the sideline helped ensure Gaven received fast, coordinated care from the field.

“Everyone had a job,” Marra said. “From our coaches to the visiting team’s trainer, the teamwork was perfect. It was exactly how it should work in high school sports.”

They kept Gaven calm and talking to prevent shock. Gaven’s father stayed by his side. Emergency responders arrived and took him to the hospital for surgery.

“From the moment he got hurt to the moment he left in the ambulance, everything ran smoothly,” Marra said. “That’s what preparation and teamwork do. They protect the athlete.”

The road back to recovery

Johnny Washington, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon and medical director of sports medicine and shoulder surgery for UF Health Jacksonville, helped guide Gaven’s hospital care. Washington was immediately alerted of the injury by the sideline medical team. Once notified, he reviewed imaging, informed the hospital of the incoming patient and performed surgery the following day at UF Health Jacksonville to repair the fractured leg.

The physical therapists at UF Health Rehabilitation – Wildlight played a key role in Gaven’s recovery. They worked with him several times each week to rebuild strength, flexibility and confidence. Their guidance helped Gaven progress from crutches to jogging, then back to sport-specific drills.

Gaven said the hardest part was mental, especially in the first few months after surgery. “It was really hard knowing I might never play football again,” Gaven said.

Physical therapy was tough at first, but support from his care team helped him keep going. He worked with the physical therapists and did additional exercises with Marra at school and during practices.

With time and hard work, he returned to basketball later that season. “When I found out I might be able to play basketball again, that really pushed me to keep going,” Gaven said.

Why athletic trainers matter

Athletic trainers are key members of any school sports team. They help prevent injuries, respond to emergencies, guide recovery efforts and also support athletes’ mental health after injuries.

“Preparation, teamwork and care — that’s what athletic training is all about,” Marra said. “We’re here to keep kids safe and help them chase their dreams.”

When injury happens, the right team makes all the difference. From on-the-field support by a skilled athletic trainer to expert orthopaedic surgery and guided outpatient rehabilitation, recovery is a team effort — and you deserve one that’s experienced, coordinated and committed to getting you back to what you love.

Learn more about our full continuum of care through rehabilitation services at UF Health Jacksonville.

Explore our specialized orthopaedic and sports medicine rehabilitation programs designed to restore strength, mobility and performance.