Trainer retrains for ‘Year of Gratitude’ for Harwood sports

October 10, 2020  |  By Katie Martin

As first responder on the field, Harwood Athletic Trainer Danni LaFlamme transports an injured St. Johnsbury soccer player last week. Photo by Michaela Milligan.

In her fifth year as Harwood Union High School’s head athletic trainer and assistant athletic director, Danielle LaFlamme couldn't wait for the fall sports season to begin. 

LaFlamme, referred to by students as “Danni” can often be seen racing between sporting events on campus in her athletic cart, or on the sidelines cheering on the student athletes. 

The University of Vermont graduate said that almost every aspect of the preseason ritual was changed due to COVID-19 restrictions. The fall season which usually starts in mid-August, was pushed back almost a month later. Among new regulations, all student athletes with the exceptions of cross country must follow the mandatory rule of wearing a face mask. 

Additionally, LaFlamme and her team complete what have now become required health checks daily. “Each athlete is screened every day -- either before school if they are an on-campus learner that day, or as they arrive at Harwood for practice. Attendance records are kept of every team and every session. VPA [Vermont Principals Association] and state guidelines were put into place, and then we also were guided by district policies as well to develop the approach for HU athletics,” she said.

Despite all of the upheaval, LaFlamme echoes a theme among coaches and athletes of being grateful just for the chance to play their sports this season. LaFlamme said she was hopeful that the students especially would have the ability to lean on their coaches, teammates and community for support. 

“Sports are critical for so many reasons. Too many to list, really. I think at a very basic level, this season is an opportunity for us all to return to something that we love amongst our peers. Mental and physical health have really been tested to the extreme, between social isolation, a decrease in opportunities for physical activity, a loss of the sense of community, and persevering through a lot of unknowns,” she explained. 

She said she hoped that getting back into sports after last school year’s final months in remote learning and few group activities over the summer would give students an opportunity to reset their focus to something positive and tangible. 

“I think that as humans, sports are how we heal, how we get better together, and how we negotiate tough times. Though the season is short, I am hopeful that it can be what we all need to be better, together. Of course, after last year's fall season, an opportunity for some postseason redemption would be pretty great, too!” she added. 

Making adjustments 

Much like all other aspects of public school life this fall, routines and procedures have all been revised to accommodate new public health requirements and restrictions. 

In her direct work of treating student injuries or concerns, LaFlamme said a lot of small changes have been applied. Instead of working in her designated training room, LaFlamme treats student athletes outside and by appointment. In the past, student athletes could just visit the training room to be checked out, taped, or given advice. Now they have to make an appointment and call ahead to limit the number of athletes in one place at a time. 

In years prior, many student athletes would wait in Danni’s office to be checked before a practice or game.  LaFlamme said it wasn’t feasible to have high school or college interns assisting this fall and staff have been managing by adjusting some protocols. 

“I am utilizing manual therapies a bit less and really relying on student athletes to follow their home exercise programs to a greater degree. We are still able to do rehabilitation programs, and taping and bracing when it's necessary, but athletes are more accountable in their healing than they've ever been,” she said.

She joked that she has gotten creative in her exercise demonstration to her athletes, sometimes doing so while she jogs from one car to the next during the initial health screening for students. 

Now a month into the season, teams have adjusted to new routines and rules. Family members and fans are learning the new ticket system for attending games. LaFlamme can be spotted on the sidelines taking care of her student athletes and those from visiting teams. “I will speak for the department and say that we have been so grateful in the response from the community, the resilience, the appreciation and thanks, and the willingness of every single person to just make it work,” she said. 

Looking ahead, LaFlamme said the adjustments will continue. For example, it’s not clear if and how winter sports will proceed. State health, education and athletics officials have not issued guidance for winter sports yet. With the exception of Nordic and alpine skiing, winter sports are indoors such as basketball, hockey, gymnastics and wrestling. Fall season has just one indoor sport, volleyball and  teams are allowed to practice inside with restrictions while matches are being played outside. It’s not clear how that example might inform guidance for winter indoor athletics. 

Public-gathering restrictions that apply to fall sports outdoors limit attendance including athletes, coaches and officials to 150 people who must observe distancing and wear masks. 

‘Year of Gratitude’ 

Harwood Girls Varsity Soccer Coach Mike Vasseur and Athletic Trainer Danni LaFlamme check out an injured player during the 2019 fall season. Courtesy photo.

By now, everyone in and around Harwood Athletics knows the mantra for 2020-21 is the “Year of Gratitude.” LaFlamsme said she hopes everyone will have their own take on that theme before long. 

She described how one morning early in the season she was out setting up the fields with the campus to herself, surrounded by the fresh scent of fall and excited to be back on the school grounds. 

“It was the normal fall excitement, but better! I was still not sure how optimistic to be about what was in store for the fall season; I was thinking that there could be a lot of speed bumps. I anticipated impatience with the masks and the new rules,” she recalled. “But I wanted the athletes to be thankful and grateful for how far we've come. I wanted them to toe up to the line and take a deep breath and think, ‘We did it, we got here, and I'm thankful for that.’” 

Katie Martin is the JV and middle school field hockey coach at Harwood Union High School and a member of the Waterbury Select Board.