University of Houston

Kaleb Whitehair

Proper loading looks different for everyone, but it’s important that we don’t forget healing time frames for the injured area we’re dealing with so we know when it’s appropriate to increase or decrease intensity. It’s also worth mentioning that we can’t forget to continue loading the athlete around the injured area as well, allowing the athlete to continue being an athlete as best we can.

Objectively, in the sports setting we have access to a lot of data, including strength and GPS metrics. We can utilize prior maxes from preand postseason testing, velocitybased training, total yardage, rate of perceived exertion, and reps in reserve to gauge proper loading. We continuously test to ensure we are where we need to be. Ultimately, the goal is to prepare athletes for the demands of their sport and position so they can compete at 110 percent with confidence.

However, if proper loading isn’t applied during the rehab process, we may cause athletes to miss additional time or inhibit their performance simply because their capacity hasn’t been fully restored due to inadequate loading on our end. Every school or team runs rehab differently, and sometimes we only have 30 minutes with an athlete for a medical screen before they are signed. In that short window, we need to understand prior injuries, surgeries, and where they are in their rehab process. We then relay that information to coaches so it can be factored into their decision-making.

Once rehab officially begins with us, we perform our own objective testing to establish a baseline and then continue communicating with all respective parties about where the athlete stands. Test, don’t guess.

Communication and Team Collaboration

There’s pressure to perform in sports for everyone, including the medical staff. I never take joy in holding anyone out, and I’m doing everything I can from a rehab standpoint to get athletes to the point where they can protect and perform. Once they can do that, they get the green light on my end.

In-season and offseason decisions look different. If it’s the Big 12 Championship and a senior who won’t be playing after that game wants to compete while injured versus a freshman just starting spring football, our risk tolerance changes. That’s why laying out all the information to everyone involved is essential so we’re aligned and can make the best decision moving forward.

This may be the most important aspect of my job. Communication is everything. Ultimately, I’m a small piece of a much bigger picture, so making sure I’ve clearly communicated what I’m seeing and what needs to be done is crucial, and vice versa.

“It’s easy to get distracted by external pressures, but staying true to your role and communicating clearly is what will lead to the best outcomes for everyone involved.”

Athletic trainers and strength staff may notice things I don’t that could make a meaningful difference. We are better together, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for the athletic trainers and strength and conditioning staff I work with. They’ve made me better at what I do, and I’ve been fortunate to work with so many great people both personally and professionally.

Coaches never want to hear that an athlete is out, and I certainly don’t enjoy delivering that news. However, my top priority is always athlete safety. Once that is addressed, we can build a plan to get them back to competition as quickly and safely as possible. Again, once athletes can protect and perform, they get the green light from me. From there, I communicate that information to athletic trainers, strength staff, coaches, physicians, players, and sometimes agents so informed decisions can be made.

Authenticity and Professional Integrity

With everything involved, NIL, the transfer portal, coaching changes, and performance pressure—there’s real value in simply showing up as yourself. Be consistent. Work hard. Have fun doing it. Athletes appreciate authenticity, and when other stakeholders have questions, present what you’re seeing along with the objective data you have. You may not always get the final say on return-toplay decisions, but you can provide the information and professional insight needed to help guide those decisions.

You may not always get the final say in return-to-play decisions, but your role in presenting accurate data and offering professional insight is invaluable. The ability to show up authentically, consistently, and with hard work ensures that, when the decision-making time comes, all parties can make informed choices that benefit the athlete’s well-being and performance.

In the face of NIL deals, the transfer portal, and coaching changes, it’s easy to get distracted by external pressures, but staying true to your role and communicating clearly is what will lead to the best outcomes for everyone involved.