Nearly half of Michigan high schools lack athletic trainers, investigation finds

A recent investigation by News 10 Lansing found that nearly 51% of Michigan high schools do not have an athletic trainer, according to data from the ATLAS Project that surveyed almost 800 schools over a three‑year period.

The shortage is felt across the state, with Fowlerville High School’s senior Brecon Aeschliman noting how a trainer’s presence can quickly address injuries on the sideline, and how the trainer’s role extends beyond injury care to injury prevention and team readiness.

Experts say the decline in trainer staffing is linked to low pay, long hours, and the cost of a master’s degree, and that schools need to prioritize hiring trainers as a first post‑director hire. The ATLAS Project’s interactive map and a letter from the Michigan High School Athletic Association to Michigan State University underscore the need for sustained support.

Read the full story at WILX.