Many prospective students who express interest in the Hope College Athletic Training Program are also interested in participating in one or more intercollegiate sports during their college years. Indeed, many of the program's finest and most accomplished alumni were athletes while at Hope College. Because the athletic training program has a significant clinical component which often requires student commitment during afternoons, evenings, and on weekends, time conflicts between sport demands and clinical requirements can conflict. The athletic training faculty are committed to encouraging students and assisting them in taking advantage of the rich co-curricular opportunities available on our campus. They are also dedicated to making sure that students can graduate on time, fulfill all the requirements for the athletic training major, and have enough quality clinical experiences to enable them to become skilled health care professionals. The following guidelines are designed to help accomplish both of these purposes.

1. The intention on the part of a prospective student to participate in intercollegiate athletics shall not factor into the admissions decision for the athletic training program.
2. Students admitted to the athletic training program may participate in intercollegiate athletics.
3. Athletic training students shall limit their participation to one intercollegiate team.
4. Athletic training students who are members of an intercollegiate team shall participate during their team's traditional season ONLY. Under no circumstances will athletic training students be permitted to participate in the non-traditional season.
5. Athletic training students who participate in intercollegiate athletics must, like all students, fulfill all the didactic and clinical program requirements before they may graduate. All such students are strongly encouraged to consult the program director early in their program since effective planning is crucial to on-time graduation for these students.
6. All students are required to have at least one "equipment intensive" clinical experience (e.g. football, ice hockey). Athletic training students who participate in a fall sport will be required to a) return for a ninth semester in which they will be assigned to work with football, b) work with an equipment intensive sport during their high school rotation, or c) make another arrangement for an equipment intensive experience with the program director.

Students with questions regarding this policy are encouraged to speak with the athletic training program director for clarification of their concerns.