We Need Treatment! The lack of athletic trainers at FAU

Every sport is [supposed] to have at least one athletic trainer.

But things are a little different this year.

Cross country and track were assigned a trainer last year, but she was moved to football so the head trainer could "keep an eye on her."

Why does he need to keep an eye on her? Maybe because she didn't do anything as the FAU cross country and track trainer the previous season!

Well, after he changed her as the football trainer, he forgot one thing- to replace the cross country and track teams with a trainer.

I'm not saying that running is a harder sport than cheerleading or football or softball. But every FAU sport deserves their own athletic trainer.

How are the cross country and track teams supposed to get treatment after a six mile speed workout? Or a 13 mile run?

Every athlete on every team has injuries, pain, sickness, or problems at some point during the year. So, every FAU sport needs someone (an athletic trainer) to assist those athletes who need care.

While they look for one, we'll be waiting (in pain.)

Poppin' Pills: The popularity (and dangers) of performance-enhancement supplements

Performance-enhancement supplements have not only become extremely popular within professional athletes, but college athletes as well.

There is continued pressure placed upon athletes everyday to perform the best of the best.

Nowadays, athletes think the only way to achieve that goal is to turn to performance-enhancement supplements and/or steroids.

It might get you a medal in your short-term collegiate career, but the long-term effects of performance-enhancement drugs and steroids are too risky and not worth it.

In the beginning of each semester, all Florida Atlantic athletes must attend NCAA meetings, and then they are sent additional information through e-mail to clarify acceptable and banned supplements--and the consequences if tested positive.

• Do not assume that a product is allowed just because it is purchased from a retail store or over the Internet. It still might be a NCAA banned substance.
• Athletes must check with an appropriate athletics administrator before taking any supplement. If the athlete doesn't receive approval and tests positive, then s/he bears full responsibility .
• The NCAA also recognizes that most nutritional supplements are ineffective, costly and unnecessary.

To gain more information about nutritional/dietry supplements, you can check out the Resource Exchage Center. The password is ncaa1, ncaa2 or ncaa3.

More Like 200 Hour Rule! -The confusion and reality about NCAA's "20-hour rule"

I received an e-mail from FAU athletics on Sept. 23 about the NCAA "20-hour rule."

The e-mail discussed how student-athletes are confused about this rule, what it really means, and how FAU enforces it.

(I guess the name of the rule isn't self explanatory.)

According to the e-mail, the National Collegiate Athletic Association started the 20-hour rule in 1991 to help reduce the amount of time students spent with athletic-related activities to allow more time for academics and other college experiences.

The following conditions define the rule:

1. The athletic activity must be monitored by a coaching staff.
2. Practice cannot exceed four hours per day. (except golf)
3. No matter how long competitions/games last--it only counts as three hours.
4. You must have one day off per week. (may be a travel day)
5. Preparing for practice and time spent in the training room does not count as mandatory practice.
6. Compliance team meetings do not count.
7. Voluntary workouts must not be required to report back to the coach.

What I don't understand is- they're the ones who write the rules, but the rules are not followed at all. Actually, it is clear from NCAA survey information that this rule is regularly broken in college athletics all over the country.

This rule is broken so often that I'm pretty sure FAU football, and many other FAU teams, will exceed the four hour daily practice limit everyday this week.

I don't think you could find one athlete on campus that only practices 20 hours per week. But no athlete will step up because that would be complaining or laziness.

But, of course, we (the athletes) are the ones "confused," right?

We'll see if FAU athletics starts to enforce the NCAA 20-hour rule, but for now it looks like time is up.

South Florida HEAT! The unbearable heat athletes deal with on a daily basis

When I write South Florida heat, I don't mean the heat from Florida Atlantic's intimidating teams. And I don't mean the basketball team, Miami heat. I mean straight up--temperature heat.

Cross country starts practice at 6:45 every morning, well, six days a week. By the time we get done with our workouts, it's about 9:30 a.m. And it is scolding hot outside.

So I wonder how all the other sports can survive that heat? It must be impossible. I sweat so much already, and my practice uniform is only a sports bra and spandex shorts!

What about football, softball, soccer, and baseball? They must be dying out there. About 100 degrees with all those pads, long pants, and thick uniforms?

I give them major props because even though it's hot while we practice too, at least we don't have to wear much.

Check out the predicted forecast for the next week in Boca Raton, and you can tell me if you would want to be outside playing a sport.

It may not seem like it will be too hot? Only about 90 degrees each day (which isn't as bad as the past few weeks).

So, I'll see you out at practice? But, just a couple things to remember before you come:

• Don't be late or you will have to run.
• Bring all your equipment and pads.
• Don't slack off.
• Oh ya, and bring some water! (because 90 degrees really feels like 120 degrees)

Shut Up & Play- The neverending trash talk from rival teams

One thing that you will never stop hearing in sports is trash talk. And I can't stand it!

I wish athletes would just shut up and play their game. Because in the end, the score will determine who the better team is.

This past weekend I was at a FAU basketball player's house with a bunch of other athletes and some punks from University of Miami's baseball team were, you guessed it, talking trash. I just think it is so idiotic that they would even drop down to our competitive level.

First of all, UM has been around since 1925. FAU has been around since 1964, but only started athletics about 10 years ago. So, of course UM should have better athletic teams.

So why do these guys have to come to an FAU party and talk trash about how good their school teams are?

Not only has our baseball team beat UM before, but almost every game has been extremely close. I cannot wait for this season's games.

And for the future of partying, I think that these "Hurricanes" need to blow back to their part of town since it is so great.

Finally, something FREE! Free printing and copying is available for all FAU student-athletes!

It is hard to find things that are absolutely free in life, but Florida Atlantic athletes are in luck. We get all free printing and copying in the Oxley Athletic Center.

This may not seem like much, but when you think about it the costs... these supplies add up.

• Computer- ~$600


• Printer- ~$30-$70


• Ink cartridges- up to $100 for black and color ink


• Paper- ~$10

To most, if not all, college students this is a lot of money. And the last thing college students want to do is spend their money on computer and school supplies. No thanks! So this is a huge benefit for FAU athletes.

And like I said before, the beginning of the school year is one of the most stressful times for student-athletes. Having the privilege of free printing, copying, and computer lab use really comes in handy when you have five classes with 12 page syllabi's each!

There is a KEY Problem on the Women's Soccer Team- A suspended player is suspected for keying another teammate's car door

Last Friday night, there was a dispute on the women's soccer field between two players. When the captain stepped in to help solve the issue, one of the teammates was very disrespectful toward her.

According to a player, who does not wish to be acknowledged due to the recent team problems, explained

"The coach's have made it clear that the team captains are part of the coaching
staff. And every player knows not to disrespect a coach. So she should have known she was disrespecting a part of our coaching staff when she argued with our captain."

When the head and assistant coach stepped in to evaluate the problem, he decided to follow the rules just as if the disrespectful player was arguing with the head coach.

This is the key part of the story that seems to be very ironic:

• The argument happened after Friday night's game.
• The coaches decided to suspend the player for Sunday's game.
• The suspended player still showed up, but sat in the stands with other fans.
• Surprisingly after the game, the team captain noticed a key scratch down the entire passenger side of her vehicle.

The team captain, who also wishes to stay unnamed, said

"I am a senior athlete and I have never had a problem with another athlete here at FAU. So I have no idea why or who would do something like this."

No one is pointing fingers, but under the circumstances, someone was obviously pointing her key.

"Break a Leg"- The nonstop injuries of athletes

The main issue that can hold an athlete back in his/her sport is an injury or injuries.

Ask any athletes, and they can probably name a whole list of injuries they have faced throughout their athletic career.

Actually, many college athletes can blame injuries for their retirement decision.

Check out some of the worst sports injuries ever.

According to Cell Health Makeover, the top 10 most common sports injuries include:

1. Muscle Pull
2. Neck Strain and Pain
3. Frozen Shoulder Injury
4. Strained Lower Back Injury
5. Tennis Elbow- Tendonitus Injury
6. Runner's Knee Injury
7. Shin Splints
8. Sprained Twist Ankle
9. Achilles Tendonitus Injury
10. Foot Arch Pain and Strain

I laughed when I discovered this site. You want to know why? Because I can name at least one player at FAU struggling with each one of these injuries at this time.

And the reason why I laugh is because these injuries are all preventable.

It is also funny because I live with two other athletes (who play on FAU's soccer team) and all three of us are injured right now-

• I have runner's knee,
• Sonia has a strained lower back, and
• Devon has a sprained twist ankle.

Hooray for the gimp roommates!

The most important injury prevention treatments for athletes to remember are:

• Stretch frequently before and after all exercising.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Eat fruits and vegetables high in nutrional value.
• Strengthen (or prehab) muscles around weak, painful areas.
• Exercise ball stretch workouts.
• Wear supportive shoes.
• Train on the softest surfaces possible.
• Ice daily.
• Always get a good amount night of rest.

Sometimes these treatments don't work and athletes have to turn to other solutions.

Thus far, I have had six shots in my knee, two years of rehab, but I just recently had to turn to surgery.

I'm only 20 years old and I already needed surgery on my knee? I know, it's crazy.

But you know what? It's fine with me, because I'm not the only FAU athlete who is sacrificing all this for my university.

We all are.

So next time you see an athlete before a game, don't forget to tell them, "Break a leg!"

"Show me the $Money$" Athletes deserve prompt payments

We are now almost a month into school. University payments were due on Aug. 31 for all students.

However, most student-athletes just received their athletic scholarships, I believe, last week.

That is absurd.

I have always wondered if this is the same financial process at every university, or just Florida Atlantic. Probably only FAU!

I understand it may sound a little pushy. But you have to think about this.

Student-athletes already have enough to worry about in the first month of school:

• Mandatory workshops for all student-athletes (about 10 total)


• Daily practice and conditioning every morning starting at six and possibly ending the day by 7 p.m. depending on the sport and class schedule


• New class assignments, tests, and mandatory attendance (yes, we have to go because they have "class checkers" for athletes)


• Every boring, never-ending meeting you can possibly think of: NCAA, Drug testing, Academic, Gambling, etc.


• Physical/ Health Center check-ups


• Eight hours of study hall per week

What I am trying to point out is that with all the extra stress athletes carry, the last thing we want to worry about is money.

And how does the athletic department not have our money "ready?" They work all summer, so what else did they have to do?

Just because athletes don't get penalized for university late fees (only because it is not our fault that the money isn't "ready"), doesn't mean that we don't get penalized for late rent, no textbooks and missing class assignments, empty food cabinets, and much more.

If student-athletes come to school in August and don't have their scholarship money, then how are they suppose to survive? A job? Ha, very funny.

Let's find time for a job in a student-athlete's schedule:

A typical Wednesday for a football player

1. Wake-up 6:45 a.m.


2. Team meetings 7:15 a.m.-8:45 a.m.


3. Practice 9 a.m.-12 p.m.


4. Class 12:30 p.m.-1:50 p.m.


5. Lunch (eat in study hall or in coach's office to watch film) 2 p.m.-3:30p.m.


6. Class 4 p.m.-5:50 p.m.


7. Dinner 6 p.m.- 7:15 p.m.


8. Weights 7:45 p.m.- 9 p.m.


9. Study hall 9 p.m.- 10 p.m.

So, how does that sound?

As you can see, there is no time for a hangover recovery from the drunken night before, no four hour nap between classes, most likely no leaving campus all day, period.

If there is barely time to eat, then how would there be time to get a job?

Bottom line- School starts around the same time every year, so if you know it will take a month to prepare our scholarships .... Start them earlier.

We bust ourselves in practice and school everyday for you to have a job, so do your job.

Because we need our money, and we need it now.