The free market doesn’t exist in college athletics. But let’s just say it did, just for a day. When “your” athlete walks into your Athletic Training Room, or into your Strength and Conditioning Room and could choose from any member of your staff to help them, would they choose you?
What about the athlete from the rowing team? The Softball team? A male athlete? A female athlete? The freshmen athlete?
College athletes usually don’t have a choice, but if they did, would it be you?
Are you known as the “Football Guy” or the “Shoulder Girl” and those are the only athletes you work with or care about?
What does that say about your customer service? Your willingness to listen to your athletes and patients? Your ability to follow up with them after an incredible training session or a devastating injury? Your ability to send an email, a text message or a simple word of encouragement?
What does it say about you if your designated athlete was able to choose their care and chose someone else on your staff…?
Would you choose you?
Art Horne is the Coordinator of Care and Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Men’s Basketball Team at Northeastern University, Boston MA. He can be reached at a.horne@neu.edu.
