WVSMA History
The Washington Vocational Sports Medicine Association (WVSMA) started
in 1994 under the name Washington Association of Secondary Schools Vocational
Sports Medicine Programs (WASSVSMP). At the time it was designed to allow high
schools in Washington that taught Sports Medicine to come together once a year
for a symposium of guest speakers, interaction between students and staff and a
friendly competition.
The first seminar/competition was held at Eisenhower High School in
Yakima. The following years have been at Davis-Yakima, South Kitsap, Lake
Stevens, Marysville, Wenatchee, Evergreen, Cheney, Eisenhower, and Ferndale
High Schools. This year the program will be held at Olympic High School in
Silverdale, WA.
The WVSMA underwent a change in 1997 when a Board of Directors
(Patrick Olsen-President, Matt Brennan-Vice President, Bonnie Smith-Secretary,
Chris Franklin-Treasurer) was put in place for the first time. The BOD installed a
number of changes, the most significant being the creation of a set of by-laws
(Freda (Colberg) Evans, Scott Peck). The set of by-laws allowed this group to
expand and change along with the growth that was being seen within high school
sports medicine programs. Other changes that also happened at this time was a
name change, non-profit status was received, sponsors were added, and a plan was
being developed to take this group into the next century.
The WVSMA has grown from the nine teams and fifty-student population to
thirty plus teams and over 300+ students at the annual meeting. The
seminar/competition has grown continually, expanding to a three-day format to
include all of the activities. Last year we started to include schools from out of
state; a school from Midwest City, OK brought a student to the annual event. This
evolved into a school exchange opportunity that included a total of nine students
traveling on their spring break to learn about different techniques and ideas from
each other.
Though the look may have changed the intent has stayed the same. Our
number one priority is to still give students and their instructors time to learn
from guest speakers, meet and talk with others from around the state and have a
friendly competition to test how well they can prevent, assess, treat and
rehabilitate injuries.
There are a number of changes that continue to take place within the
structure of the WVSMA. Elections started last year and will continue this year
with the Secretary and President position being challenged. The continued
growth in Sports Medicine at the high school level in the State of Washington has
continued to challenge our testing procedures and test make-up. The testing
committee implemented new standards that must be met to develop, copy and
deliver the test to the site along with how the test is administered at the testing
site. This has been a major undertaking with the phenomenal growth that we have
seen.
The BOD is working to align the seminar/competition with the WIAA and
VICA so that all programs are recognized and rewarded for taking part. The BOD
has also been actively seeking help from new sponsors and the NATA to help
increase the visibility of the seminar. The BOD is also actively trying to increase
the visibility of Certified Athletic Trainers at the high school level. They have
traveled extensively to coaches’ clinics around the state to hand out information
about ATC’s at the high school level and innovative ways that school districts can
afford them. They are giving out plaques to recognize ATC’s from dues paying
schools that have had successful sports teams and they have been actively seeking
to speak at the State School Board, Vocational and Athletic Directors meetings.
The Scholarship Committee has two new scholarships to give out this year
to deserving senior applicants. The WVSMA has given $500 for one scholarship
and the Benik Corporation donated $250 for a second one. These scholarships are
based entirely on academic achievement, community service and letters of
recommendation received by the individual student.