As a result of hiring shortages in the area, Cassville athletics may not have a full-time athletic trainer for sporting events when school starts in the fall.
Lance Parnell, who just began his new role as athletic director, said the district was notified ta the end of May that Mercy would not be renewing its athletic trainer contract with the district.
“Right now, we are one of several schools in this situation,” Parnell said. “Mercy, Cox, Freeman and Northwest Health are all dealing with a trainer shortage. There are more jobs than people going into the field.”
An athletic trainer is a certified and licensed health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and intervention of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations and disabilities, especially surrounding participation in athletics and the ramifications thereof.
Parnell said Cassville was one of five schools Mercy dropped at the end of May, but the writing may have been on the wall long before.
“We’ve been in this boat since October [2022] of getting spot coverage and not having a dedicated trainer here,” Parnell said. “Mercy kept trying but couldn’t find anyone, so they finally terminated the contract.”
Parnell said he has reached out to other area providers, but all sing the same song.
“I talked to Cox, Freeman and northwest Health, and I got the same story from every one — there is a hiring shortage,” Parnell said. “We went out to Mercy 10 years ago and said we wanted one, and we still have a great relationship with Mercy. It’s just unfortunate they can’t hire anyone.”
As the fall approaches, Parnell said school officials are going to have to formulate the best plan with the resources at their disposal.
“We’re really looking at options right now and putting our heads together to figure out what we can do and the possibilities for getting the same kind of coverage at the start of the school year,” he said. “We will have some training for coaches so they can do some of the things an athletic trainer can do. We don’t have any money budgeted right now to hire an individual.”
The Cassville School Board passed its budget for the upcoming year on Thursday. It includes a line item of $16,000 to be spent on athletic training services. Last year, the district spent $13,166.
