Feb 17, 2025Q&ATC with GATA president Andy Grubbs
Andy Grubbs, MEd, ATC, LAT, joined the Hughston Foundation as Director of Athletic Training in June 2010. His primary responsibility has been the oversight of the 18 graduate assistant athletic trainers who provide medical care to the local area high schools and professional sports teams. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from Valdosta State University in 2001 and a master’s degree in education from Auburn University in 2003.
Before Hughston, Mr. Grubbs worked at South Effingham High School in Rincon, Georgia, and the University of West Alabama in Livingston, Alabama.
Grubbs became president of the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association (GATA) in 2023. He previously held the position of GATA vice president. He is also the author of the 2016 book Taping, Wrapping, and Bracing for Athletic Trainers: Functional Methods for Application and Fabrication.
He spoke with Training & Conditioning magazine to discuss GATA, his career, and the athletic training industry. Below is an edited version of that interview.
Training & Conditioning: How does GATA support athletic trainers’ ongoing education, and are there specific skills or certifications you believe will be essential for athletic trainers in the coming years?
Andy Grubbs: GATA hosts an annual meeting each year to offer members an opportunity to gain a portion of their required continuing educational units. In the future, we hope to be able to offer a library of video-based lectures for additional CEUs. For additional training, it really depends on what setting you work in. There are so many great opportunities out there to make yourself a better clinician.
T&C: Can you discuss any initiatives GATA has taken to foster collaboration between athletic trainers, strength coaches, and other sports medicine professionals? What benefits have you observed from these collaborations?
Grubbs: GATA has a number of dual-credentialed members. This gives us the chance to understand the challenges other professional groups may be facing and allows us an opportunity to assist in their efforts.
With budget restrictions often impacting athletic departments, how can athletic trainers advocate for necessary resources, and what is GATA’s role in supporting these efforts? GATA leadership is always available to help connect members with vendors and resources to help with budgeting. I personally often help with advice about fundraising in the community for special projects.
T&C: As sports science and technology evolve, what do you see as the future role of athletic trainers in Georgia? How is GATA preparing its members for these shifts?
Grubbs: Georgia is seeing a shift especially in the types of settings that ATs are being employed. The opportunities in the industrial and military settings are growing rapidly in the state. GATA endeavors to keep its membership informed about opportunities through its social media channels and website.
T&C: What recent or upcoming state or national legislation could impact athletic trainers, and how is GATA involved in advocacy efforts for the profession?
Grubbs: GATA is looking to help secure a sponsor in the state legislature to help update our state practice act. We partner with a lobbying firm to assist us in identifying bills that can affect our members across the state.
T&C: What advice do you have for athletic trainers just starting out, especially those who aim to work in high school and collegiate settings in Georgia?
Grubbs: Experience is the best educator. I personally recommend that young ATs seek out and gain valuable knowledge from others who have worked in those settings. Learning how to deal with different personalities — and communicating effectively with those personalities — can be one of the most beneficial skills for young staff members.
T&C: How can athletic trainers advocate for the value they bring to athletic programs, especially within school administrations? What strategies have GATA found effective in promoting the importance of athletic training to broader audiences?
Grubbs: Sometimes it’s difficult for school systems to see the value in having an athletic trainer until something bad happens. GATA focuses on having its leadership available to field questions from school administrators about different resources available to help secure an AT along with the value they can add to an athletic department staff. Utilization of social media has been an impactful way to spread the word about not only what an AT is, but what they can do for a patient.
T&C: For athletic trainers working in under-resourced schools, what are some ways to provide quality care with limited resources? How does GATA assist trainers in facing these challenges?
Grubbs: GATA membership is extremely creative in creating a lot out of nothing. From putting sand in soda bottles to make weights for shoulder rehab, to creating hydration systems from spare parts in their garages… athletic trainers find a way to make it happen. I always recommend seeking knowledge from those around you and those who have gone before you. If an athletic trainer has an issue, it’s very likely that another AT has dealt with that very same problem and already has a possible solution. Getting ideas about how they handled the concern can help guide future interventions.
