National Academy of Sports Medicine Signs Contract with National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association
CALABASAS, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2007) – The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), a health and fitness education and sports performance solutions provider, today announced its has signed a new agreement with the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) that establishes NASM (www.nasm.org) as the official provider of sports education for the organization. NASM will develop and market instructional programs in consultation with the NBATA (www.nbata.com) while serving as a resource to each NBA team’s medical staff.
“This extension to our previous strategic athletic training partnership will further serve the world’s greatest basketball players and represents an advancing educational model that benefits NASM and the NBATA,” said NASM President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Micheal Clark. “NASM is committed to ensuring that all NBA athletic trainers are equipped with the latest evidence-based manual therapy, corrective exercise and prevention solutions to reinforce their ability to condition and counsel their players, thus continuously elevating their educational and athletic standards.”
The NBATA is the official professional organization that comprises approximately 60 certified athletic trainers who provide specialized health care and critical support services to the athletes and organizations of the NBA.
A major component of NASM’s partnership with the NBATA is the implementation of its Optimum Performance Training (OPT) model and athletic assessment tools that provide a reliable and comprehensive source of injury prevention information and performance enhancement data based on the latest scientific research. The OPT methodology provides results specific to individual needs and goals and eliminates program development uncertainties for any sports medicine professional.
"Nearly all of the athletic trainers in the NBATA have earned the NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) advanced specializations. Personally my skills have been enhanced through these continuing educational opportunities," said Tom Abdenour, new chairman of the NBATA and head athletic trainer of the Golden State Warriors. “This new agreement will reinforce the shared mission of supporting members' professional growth and sharing valuable research results.”
According to the latest NASM statistics, approximately 93 percent of athletic trainers hold the NASM PES and/or CES advanced specializations.
With the new agreement, NASM will contribute to each NBATA athletic trainer’s management and practice of exceptional health care and enhance their educational resources. The organization plans to conduct basketball-oriented sports medicine research, seminars and customized training programs for the collective benefit of all NBA players. The NBATA will suggest content, review and approve NASM’s instructional programs and aid it in building relationships with their NBA teams, management, players and sponsors.
Also as part of the agreement, NASM and the NBATA will form an advisory board and jointly fund additional sports medicine and athletic training research studies, some of which will involve the participation of NBA players. Both organizations will form a research advisory board and contribute toward a full tuition NBATA/NASM Student Scholarship at the Arizona School of Health Sciences.
About NASM
Since 1987, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) has been the recognized global authority in certification, continuing education, solutions and tools for the health, fitness, sports performance and sports medicine professionals. Today, NASM serves more than 100,000 members in 80 countries. In addition to its evidence-based NCCA-accredited fitness certification program, Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), NASM also offers a progressive career track with access to Advanced Specializations, Continuing Education courses, and accredited Bachelor and Master Degree programs. The NASM educational continuum is designed to help today’s health and fitness professional enhance their career while empowering their clients to live healthier lives. For more information, call 800-460-NASM or visit www.nasm.org.