Mission Statement:

Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) promotes safe participation on sports and all aspects of health and wellness. The SMAC shall advise NEPSAC concerning sports medicine issues as they relate to rules writing, as well as other programs of NEPSAC. It will provide guidance and direction to NEPSAC and its membership relative to current sports medicine issues. This committee will collaborate with NEPSAC to educate its constituency concerning sports medicine and safety issues of general concern to the NEPSAC membership.

The information contained in this section of the NEPSAC website is for informational purposes only. Each institution needs develop their own policies specific to the institution. 

Overview of the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC)

2024 NEPSAC SMAC Committee Members

SMAC Document Disclaimer:

The SMAC publishes these documents as a service to promote the awareness of certain issues to NEPSAC Members. The information contained in the position statement is neither exhaustive nor exclusive to all circumstances or individuals. The SMAC advises its members and others to carefully and independently consider each of the recommendations (including the applicability of same to any particular circumstance or individual). These documents should not be relied upon as an independent basis for care, but rather as a resource. The NEPSAC SMAC reserves the right to rescind or modify these documents at any time.

Statement on Inclusion

SMAC Recommendation for Hockey – 2024-2025 Season

SMAC Inclement Weather Guidelines

NEPSAC Skin Check Form

SMAC Supplement Statement

Neutral Site Playoffs: Medical/Athletic Trainer Coverage Guidelines for NEPSAC

Football Practice Contact Policy Proposal

Helmets and Mouthguards in Hockey (revised 2023)

2016 Appropriate Medical Supervision Football

SMAC Concussion Statement

NEPSAC Neutral Site Policy

Lightning Safety Policy

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES:

Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association
https://goeata.org/research_home.htm#grant_info

National Athletic Trainers’ Association
https://natafoundation.org/research/grant-opportunities/

Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation, Inc
http://www.defibandlive.org/hp-highlights/save-a-life/

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

Headway Foundation – Free Webinars
Free CEUS From Medco Sports Medicine
“Heads Up” on Concussion: Free Online Courses for ATCs
Gatorade Sports Science Institute

NEPSAC Athletic Trainers – State and National Board and Committee Positions

Jeff Nadeau, MS, ATC
St. George’s School
Rhode Island Athletic Training Association (RIATA) – President
NATA District 1 Executive Board

Valerie Webber, MS, ATC
St. Andrews School
NATA District 1 Chair – Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee (SSATC)
RIATA Past President

Art Entwistle, MEd, ATC, LAT, RAA
Rocky Hill School
RIATA Co-Chair – Secondary School AT Committee

Frank Mastrangelo, CMAA, LAT, ATC, EMT
Lawrence Academy
NATA District 1 – Chair Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE)

Laura Darby McNally
Middlesex School
NATA District 1 – District 1 – ATs Care Committee (ATsC)

Don Bagnall, ATC, LAT
Hopkins School
NATA Liaison to American Academy of Pediatrics

Jessica Testani, MS, LAT, ATC
Watkinson School
Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association ( CCATA) – Chair – Secondary School Committee

Honors and Awards Given to NEPSAC Athletic Trainers:

Awards Given to NEPSAC Schools:

The Safe Sports School Award recognizes secondary schools around the country that take the crucial steps to keep their athletes free from injuries. 

In order to achieve Safe Sports School Status, Athletic Programs are required to adhere to the following:

• Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
• Provide or coordinate per-participation physical examinations
• Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities
• Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment
• Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes
• Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions
• Provide or facilitate injury intervention
• Create and rehearse venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
• Provide or facilitate psycho-social consultation and nutritional counseling/education
• Be sure athletes and parents are educated of the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities

Learn more: https://www.nata.org/advocacy/youth-sports-safety/safe-sports-schools