Inspire Her Q+A with LA Tedder
2/2/2022 8:00:00 AM | Sports Medicine, Sport Performance
1. What does a day in your job look like when it isn't gameday?
In season, most days are pretty busy. You're constantly doing evaluations, treatments, and rehabs to keep the athletes healthy and on the court. Also have lift and practice which takes up a good chunk of the day. When you have down time from the athletics piece, the time is spent catching up on admin work and making sure documentation is uploaded, appointments are scheduled, etc.
2. What does a gameday in your role look like?
You arrive before anyone else and are typically the last to leave. Getting water and all of your equipment to the court and prepared for the game. I have at least 2-3 treatment sessions the day of to make sure athletes feel good and are ready to compete at the highest level. During the game, its less about watching/enjoying the games, but more about making sure athletes get up when they dive, seeing how they land after a jump, if there's blood.
3. What was your journey to get to where you are today?
6 years of school. 4 years of undergrad at Western Carolina and 2 years of grad school here at GSU. Countless hours were spent studying, practicing skills, observing, and learning at a multitude of clinicals. I was lucky to be able to show my skill set and passion for AT throughout grad school that I was hired on to staff after graduating.
4. Why do you enjoy working in college athletics?
I love being able to be apart of their college experience. It's amazing to see how much someone grows and develops as both an athlete and a person from freshman year to senior year. For most athletes, their identity is found within their sport. Being able to ensure they get to be that person and do it to the best of their ability is very rewarding.
5. How has your involvement in sport shaped who you are today?
Being an athlete when I was younger allowed me to share similar experiences with my current athletes. This allows me to relate to them and have a better understanding of how they are feeling. I had athletic trainers in my past who were to keep me on the field, and I wanted to be able to do the same for other athletes.
6. Who is someone that inspires you as a woman in sports?
Brandy Clouse is someone who has really inspired me in sport and is one of the reasons I wanted to attend grad school at GSU. She worked her way from the bottom to get to where she is today and be the leader of our sports medicine department. I also work with several other females amongst our staff who inspire me to keep going every day even when things get difficult. Being able to support each other through the journey is extremely important.
7. How do you hope you inspire athletes at Georgia Southern and other young women and girls in sports?
Being a female in a male dominant profession has its challenges, especially when working a male sport. I hope that it provides an example to other young women that you can be successful in sport and be an asset to the staff.
8. What would be your advice to a young woman who wants to be in your position?
To never give up or let someone make you feel inferior because you are a female. I hope that they would not shy away from opportunities but embrace who they are and what they love to do.
