How BCH partners with Boulder Valley School District to support high school athletes all year

As Boulder County students head back to school and fall sports are soon to begin, thousands of Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) student athletes are preparing for another season full of practices and competitions. Behind every game, is a team ready to support these students every step of the way.

For nearly 30 years, Boulder Community Health has partnered with BVSD and the CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center to provide certified athletic trainers in six BVSD high schools. Together, they care for more than 5,000 student athletes each year, making this one of the longest-standing and most comprehensive high school sports medicine partnerships in Colorado.

Athletic trainers are often the first healthcare professional a student sees after an injury, and sometimes, the one they see most often during recovery. Whether responding to injuries on the sidelines, helping prevent injuries before they happen or guiding students through recovery, athletic trainers play an essential role in keeping young athletes healthy, safe and ready to compete in the sports they love.

More than the sidelines

Many people think athletic trainers tape ankles before games or rush onto the field when an injury occurs. While they certainly do both, their role extends far beyond the sidelines. Athletic trainers are licensed healthcare professionals who specialize in preventing, evaluating, treating and rehabilitating injuries related to sports and physical activity. Throughout the school year, they care for everything from overuse injuries like shin splints and tendonitis to acute injuries such as ankle sprains, ACL tears and concussions.

As fall sports begin, athletic trainers also help prepare athletes before the season gets underway, educating students on topics such as nutrition, hydration, concussion awareness, properly fitting protective equipment and sport-specific injury prevention. For many incoming freshmen, this education is their introduction to high school athletics and plays an important part of helping them compete safely.

While the athletic trainers present at schools are often the first healthcare professional an athlete sees after an injury, through BCH’s partnership with the CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center, student athletes also have access to expedited care with sports medicine physicians—often within 24 to 48 hours. This gives families more timely diagnoses to help athletes begin recovery as quickly as possible.

A gold standard for concussion care

Concussions require more than time away from sports, they require coordinated care that supports both a student’s health and their education. BVSD’s concussion program is one of the most comprehensive in the region. Developed collaboratively by athletic trainers, sports medicine physicians, school nurses and counselors, it provides consistent return-to-learn and return-to-play guidelines for students from elementary school through high school.

Athletic trainers are the center of that process. They monitor recovery, communicate with physicians and school staff, help ensure classroom accommodations are in place and guide students safely back to activity once they have been medically cleared. The multidisciplinary team continues to meet throughout the year to review complex cases and ensure concussion protocols remain current and evidence-based.

More than medical care

Trust isn’t built in a single visit, it’s build over months and years of showing up every day. Athletic trainers are there before practices, during competitions and throughout rehabilitation. They’re the people checking in post-injury, celebrating milestones in recovery and helping students navigate the challenges that can come with balancing sports, school and life.

Those daily interactions often create relationships that extend beyond physical injuries. Athletic trainers become trusted adults who provide encouragement, guidance and support, helping student athletes build confidence both on and off the field, while recognizing when they may need additional care or resources.

A community investment that lasts

For athletic trainers, success isn’t measured only by wins and losses—it's seeing a student safely return to the sport or activity they love. They are there when an injury occurs, helping families navigate physician appointments, surgery when needed and the rehabilitation process every step of the way. They also stand ready for the unexpected, providing emergency care for athletes, coaches and spectators alike when every second matters.

“I have been the athletic trainer at Boulder High and the coordinator of high school outreach for BCH for 29 years,” Shannon Aberton, Head Athletic trainer said. “My longevity is in large part due to the partnership and support BCH has with BVSD. BCH is a community hospital. I can think of no better service to the community than providing healthcare for over 5,000 athletes every year in Boulder County with our athletic trainers. I know our program is the gold standard and I take immense pride in the care we provide for the athletes in BVSD.”

As another school year begins, BCH is proud to continue supporting student athletes through this longstanding partnership, helping ensure every athlete has access to expert care, trusted guidance and the support they need to stay healthy both on and off the field.