Published Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 4:09 p.m.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools is pleased to announce that Dobyns-Bennett High School is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School award for its athletic program. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the National Athletic Trainer’s Association,” said Larry Shively, Kingsport City Schools Director of Athletics and Activities. “Dobyns-Bennett is fortunate to have two full-time trainers, Kevin Trivette and Caitlyn Horn, who work relentlessly alongside our coaches, administration, and Athletic Department staff to ensure that our student athletes are participating in the safest possible environment.  The health, safety, and well-being of our student athletes are our highest priority at Dobyns-Bennett.”

“We remain committed to the health and welfare of young athletes in competitive sports,” said NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC. “This award recognizes the contributions and commitment of schools across the country that are implementing safe sports policies and best practices to ensure athletes can do what they love best and have the appropriate care in place to prevent, manage and treat injuries should they occur.”

In order to achieve Safe Sport School status, as Dobyns-Bennett has, athletic programs must do the following:

• Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
• Provide or coordinate pre-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 a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
• Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education
• Ensure athletes and parents are educated in the potential benefits and risks of sports, as well as their responsibilities

For more information please visit, www.athletictrainers.org.

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice and an alternative learning program; with total enrollment over 7,700 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to be, Student Focused … World Class.

KCS has been named the top school district in Tennessee as winner of the 2014 SCORE Prize District Award by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and has earned the 2014 Achievement Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee Recognition Program by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE).

For more information on KCS, visit k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, download our mobile app for Apple / Android devices or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District), LinkedIn (Kingsport City Schools) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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