The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) was founded in 1950 when the first meeting of the NATA took place in Kansas City.  About 200 athletic trainers gathered to discuss the future of their profession.

Recognizing the need for a set of professional standards and appropriate professional recognition, the NATA has helped to unify certified athletic trainers across the country by setting a standard for professionalism, education, certification, research and practice settings. Since its inception, the NATA has been a driving force behind the recognition of the athletic training profession.

Once housed in Greenville, NC, the NATA now is headquartered in Dallas, TX.  From humble beginnings, the association has expanded to encompass a global membership totaling more than 30,000, plus a full-time executive director and staff. Members serve as leaders for the association, which has multiple committees working together to help advance the profession.

A complete history of the NATA and the development of the athletic training profession is included in the hardcover book, “Far Beyond the Shoe Box: Fifty Years of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.”

source: The Naional Athletic Trainers' Association (www.nata.org)