Dear NSSA Member:

Rick Reilly, Brandon George, Ron Morris, Arnie Stapleton and Scott Fowler are among the respected NSSA members who are past recipients of the NATA Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting Award, sponsored by the National Athletic Trainers' Association.  By completing a simple entry form for an article or broadcast you've completed in 2010, you could put your name on that distinguished list of winners, while also bringing home $500 and earning a free trip to the NSSA awards weekend, May 14-16, in Salisbury, North Carolina.

The award is presented annually by NATA to a sportscaster or sportswriter whose publication or broadcast highlights an athletic health care issue or athletic health care provider in a positive manner. You may nominate yourself or another NSSA member for this year's award. As an athletic trainer, I have built invaluable relationships with members of the media and have witnessed first-hand the positive impact the media has had in promoting athletic health care and the profession of athletic training. NATA is proud to present this award each year to the media person who excels in educating the public about these issues.

In addition to the award, NATA continues to host the Sunday brunch during the NSSA annual awards program. And, following the success of our last seven sports medicine seminars, we will once again bring in athletic trainers to address hot topics in the field.

The award criteria follows this letter. The nomination process is open to members of NSSA only. Nominations must be received by March 1, and must be submitted by email. All entries must have been produced in 2010.

Thanks for all your support.  We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Sincerely,

Al Green, ATC
NATA Public Relations Council

NATA Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting Award

 Award criteria:

·        Nominees must be current members of NSSA.

·        The article or broadcast must have been printed or aired during 2010 and must:

·        show an impact or importance of the subject matter to the athletic health care field;

·        be useful/vital to the public or target audience; and

·        promote an athletic health care issue such as injury prevention, special treatment techniques or rehabilitation, performance enhancing drug issues, first aid emergency care, athletic health care education and promotion.

·        consideration will be given to those NSSA members who use proper "athletic trainer" terminology. (The term "trainer" is never accurate when referring to a member of the athletic training profession.)

 The winner will receive:

·        $500 cash prize plus plaque

·        travel expenses (coach airfare, meals, three nights lodging) to attend the NSSA awards program

To be considered, send an email to Ellen Satlof at ellen@nata.org by March 1, 2011, and include the following (only electronic submissions will be considered):

 PART ONE

Nominee's Name (MUST BE AN NSSA MEMBER):

Mailing Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Media Outlet:

Job Title:

Publication/broadcast date:

Nominator's Name (if different from above):

Nominator's telephone:

Nominator's Email:

PART TWO

Brief summary citing reasons why the individual should receive the award. Provide information on the nature of the writing or broadcast and the extent to which this reached the public and impacted their understanding of athletic health care.

PART THREE

An electronic version (or link) of the article or broadcast.

If you have any questions, please contact Ellen Satlof at (972) 532-8859.