Description

The AT Spotter is an independent certified athletic trainer who observes play on the field and monitors the live game video to identify potential player injuries, with an emphasis on concussions and other head and neck injuries. Two AT Spotters will be positioned in the Injury Video Review Booth, along with an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant (UNC), and two injury video replay system (IVRS) operators who will tag plays and replays at the direction of the AT Spotter. The AT Spotter must be available for required new hire, preseason and in season training sessions; every home game during the season, including preseason and post season; must be able to sit for long periods of time and work well under high pressure; and must be able to attend periodic video conference meetings and in-person training seminar(s) at the NFL's request.

Essential Functions:

When the AT Spotter observes a player who is clearly unstable, or displays any other Potential Concussion Signs following a mechanism of injury (e.g., a hit to the head or neck), he/she will contact the Club physician and sideline UNC by radio to ensure that a concussion evaluation is undertaken on the sideline. The Club medical staff will then verify to the Booth AT Spotter that the evaluation has been performed. The Booth AT Spotter shall note the time of his initial contact with the Club medical staff and sideline UNC alerting them of the need for further evaluation and the time of the communication from the Club medical staff and sideline UNC confirming that an evaluation has been performed. This information is to be conveyed in the Booth AT Spotter’s and Booth UNC’s report following the game. If the Booth AT Spotter observes a player whom he has flagged for medical evaluation return to the game prior to receiving the confirmation from the Club’s medical staff that an evaluation was conducted, the Booth AT Spotter shall call a Medical Time-Out. For purposes of clarity, this is intended to serve as a redundant communication from the Booth AT Spotter with the Club physician or sideline UNC to confirm that a concussion evaluation has been performed. If no such confirmation is provided, the Booth AT Spotter is required to call a Medical Time-Out to assure the concussion evaluation occurs.

Booth AT Spotters shall file a report of their activity following each game for review by the Chairperson of the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee, NFL Chief Medical Officer and NFLPA Medical Director.

Qualifications

Required and Preferred Education and Experience:

• Maintain a current athletic trainer certification by the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (bocatc.org).
• Maintain current license/registration in state of primary assignment, where required.
• Minimum of an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience as a certified athletic trainer.
• Significant experience with football, preferably at the college and/or professional level
• Must be proficient in using technology, including video replay, two-way radios, and computer/web-based applications.
• Must possess sound decision-making skills in fast-paced, high-pressure situations.
• Cannot have been a paid full-time or part-time employee of an NFL team within the last 5 years.
• Cannot cover games that involve a team for which the AT spotter had previous full-time employment.

Physical Demands/Travel

The AT Spotter must be available for every home game during the season, including preseason and post season; must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time and work well under high-pressure; and must be able to attend in-person training seminar(s) at the NFL’s request.

Expected Hours of Work: Approximately 7-8 hours per game (arrive 3 hours before kickoff, leave approximately 45 minutes – 1 hour after end of game)

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

$125/hour