Q&A: Athletic Trainer Amanda Madsen's Big Impact
4/12/2023 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Amanda Madsen will wrap up her sixth season with the Indiana volleyball program when the school year comes to an end in May.
Her job, an Associate Athletic Trainer in the IU Sports Medicine department, is one of the most valuable in the program.
Among her duties include clearing athletes upon their arrival on campus, working every practice and game, providing treatment before and after competition and practice and escorting athletes to off-campus x-rays, MRI's and other exams.
She arrived in Bloomington in 2014 with her husband Leif, working as an Athletic Trainer in the IU School of Optometry while also providing coverage for local high schools.
Madsen joined the volleyball program in 2017 and will enter her seventh season during the 2023-2024 school year.
We caught up with the St. Charles, Minn. native before the end of the spring season on her time in Bloomington, her life as an athletic trainer and her favorite memory at IU.
How did you get into the industry to begin with?
"I really wanted to do sports management but when I went to visit the undergrad I wanted to go to, you had to visit two specific majors. So, I went to sports management, and I saw athletic training and went there. I was from a small school, so I didn't really know all the ins and outs. I got to meet some of the staff, and they let me know what the major was all about, and I thought it was cool and I wanted to do this. So, I went into athletic training. It kind of fell into my lap in a way. I like to help people and I like to be around sports. It was a mixture of both and here I am."
What's the best part about your job every day?
"The most interesting thing is all the stuff you get to be a part of. Obviously, the medical side you get to be with, rehab, return to play, etc. To be around these athletes that are amazing and the coaching staffs. In other jobs, you might not get to be around these types of people. It's a cool environment you get to be exposed to while having fun and passionately doing your job."
How do you begin to build relationships with new athletes?
"When they get here, sometimes I'm one of the first people they see because they have to go through me to be cleared. I get to spend a lot of time with them in those first days doing physicals, blood work, etc, stuff we have to do with incoming athletes. From day one I think they're immersed with me because I'm their point person for clearance. I try to build my relationship with them right away, letting them know what my job is and communication lines. I get to hit the ground running with a lot of them. It helps because we are so immersed with the student athletes on a day-to-day standpoint that we are with them all the time. Building that relationship from the beginning is vitally important."
How do you help alleviate some stress and anxiety from athletes during tough times?
"Some of it goes back to having a good relationship with them and a good foundation so they trust you and the things you're educating them on. If we can support them in all areas and reassure, we're going to help them get through it, then if you do have a big injury, you're that person that's there with them."
What do you enjoy about working at IU and the sports medicine department?
"I think IU is such a special place. We always pride ourselves in the sports medicine area with comradery between our staff. We're all still learning as athletic trainers so it's pretty unique that I can go and bounce ideas off each other. The volleyball program always has great athletes and great kids. It's always been a phenomenal group to work with. It makes coming to work enjoyable especially on some of those long days."
You came in the year before head coach Steve Aird did. How did you help bridge the gap in the transition period between coaching staffs and then the new athletes?
"You were helping the staff navigate and bridging the gap between athletes and coaches. I was still relatively new but being with Steve through his entire tenure has been great. The staff he's had, no matter the turnover, has always been phenomenal. Steve's always been super supportive of my job and my role. It makes my job so much easier."
What has been your favorite memory working with IU?
"Going to Europe was a really fun experience for the program. The Ohio State win in 2022 was something awesome to be a part of. It was a cool thing because finally having all of the group of Steve's people and seeing some of those things come together was amazing."
Her job, an Associate Athletic Trainer in the IU Sports Medicine department, is one of the most valuable in the program.
Among her duties include clearing athletes upon their arrival on campus, working every practice and game, providing treatment before and after competition and practice and escorting athletes to off-campus x-rays, MRI's and other exams.
She arrived in Bloomington in 2014 with her husband Leif, working as an Athletic Trainer in the IU School of Optometry while also providing coverage for local high schools.
Madsen joined the volleyball program in 2017 and will enter her seventh season during the 2023-2024 school year.
We caught up with the St. Charles, Minn. native before the end of the spring season on her time in Bloomington, her life as an athletic trainer and her favorite memory at IU.
How did you get into the industry to begin with?
"I really wanted to do sports management but when I went to visit the undergrad I wanted to go to, you had to visit two specific majors. So, I went to sports management, and I saw athletic training and went there. I was from a small school, so I didn't really know all the ins and outs. I got to meet some of the staff, and they let me know what the major was all about, and I thought it was cool and I wanted to do this. So, I went into athletic training. It kind of fell into my lap in a way. I like to help people and I like to be around sports. It was a mixture of both and here I am."
What's the best part about your job every day?
"The most interesting thing is all the stuff you get to be a part of. Obviously, the medical side you get to be with, rehab, return to play, etc. To be around these athletes that are amazing and the coaching staffs. In other jobs, you might not get to be around these types of people. It's a cool environment you get to be exposed to while having fun and passionately doing your job."
How do you begin to build relationships with new athletes?
"When they get here, sometimes I'm one of the first people they see because they have to go through me to be cleared. I get to spend a lot of time with them in those first days doing physicals, blood work, etc, stuff we have to do with incoming athletes. From day one I think they're immersed with me because I'm their point person for clearance. I try to build my relationship with them right away, letting them know what my job is and communication lines. I get to hit the ground running with a lot of them. It helps because we are so immersed with the student athletes on a day-to-day standpoint that we are with them all the time. Building that relationship from the beginning is vitally important."
How do you help alleviate some stress and anxiety from athletes during tough times?
"Some of it goes back to having a good relationship with them and a good foundation so they trust you and the things you're educating them on. If we can support them in all areas and reassure, we're going to help them get through it, then if you do have a big injury, you're that person that's there with them."
What do you enjoy about working at IU and the sports medicine department?
"I think IU is such a special place. We always pride ourselves in the sports medicine area with comradery between our staff. We're all still learning as athletic trainers so it's pretty unique that I can go and bounce ideas off each other. The volleyball program always has great athletes and great kids. It's always been a phenomenal group to work with. It makes coming to work enjoyable especially on some of those long days."
You came in the year before head coach Steve Aird did. How did you help bridge the gap in the transition period between coaching staffs and then the new athletes?
"You were helping the staff navigate and bridging the gap between athletes and coaches. I was still relatively new but being with Steve through his entire tenure has been great. The staff he's had, no matter the turnover, has always been phenomenal. Steve's always been super supportive of my job and my role. It makes my job so much easier."
What has been your favorite memory working with IU?
"Going to Europe was a really fun experience for the program. The Ohio State win in 2022 was something awesome to be a part of. It was a cool thing because finally having all of the group of Steve's people and seeing some of those things come together was amazing."
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