If Your Coach Tells You Not to See the Athletic Trainer—That’s a Red Flag

The Scenario: “Coach Told Us Not to Say Anything”

“I’ll have a player in my clinic,” Dr. Z says. “And I’ll ask, ‘Did you tell your athletic trainer?’ And they say, ‘No—coach told us not to.’”
That moment changes everything.
Because now, instead of a team of professionals working together to support the athlete, you’ve got a broken system—and a kid caught in the middle.
If a coach doesn’t trust their own staff—why should the athlete or parent?

Have you ever seen or experienced a coach pressuring a player not to report an injury? What happened? Share your story in the video comments.

Everyone Has a Role—And Everyone Needs to Be Respected

Dr. Z is a team doctor, not a pitching coach. He respects that boundary.
But the respect needs to go both ways.
Coaches should encourage athletes to report injuries, seek care, and communicate with professionals—not shame them for it or block access.

“Let the athletic trainer do their job,” Dr. Z says. “Let the doctor do their job. Everyone can communicate—as long as the parent allows it—and the athlete stays safe.”

Silence Doesn’t Build Toughness—It Builds Mistrust

Yes, there’s a difference between being sore and being hurt.
And yes, sometimes athletes can “play through it” safely.
But hiding injuries, avoiding treatment, or ignoring medical concerns doesn’t make you tough—it makes you vulnerable.
That culture of silence doesn’t stay on the field—it bleeds into everything.
Players stop being honest. Parents stop trusting the staff. And careers get cut short because something small was never addressed.

Red Flags Every Parent and Coach Should Watch For

🚩 Coach tells a player not to report an injury
🚩 Athletic trainer isn’t informed of pain or setbacks
🚩 Parents feel pressured to “stay quiet” about medical concerns
🚩 Injuries are played down without medical input
🚩 Players fear losing playing time if they seek help

Key Takeaways

✅ Coaches should never discourage athletes from reporting pain
✅ ATs, coaches, doctors, and families must work as a team
✅ Hidden injuries often become major injuries
✅ Culture of trust > culture of silence
✅ Athletes deserve professionals who prioritize their health—not their availability

How Sore to Soaring Builds Trust Into Athlete Development

At Sore to Soaring, we treat communication as a pillar of performance.
We work with athletic trainers, physical therapists, and physicians to create transparent, athlete-centered plans—because long-term development only works when everyone is on the same page.
If you're hiding pain just to stay on the field, we’ve already lost the bigger game.

Support our mission at: www.SoreToSoaring.org

Disclaimer

The views shared in this article are for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement by Lupos Initiative Inc., DBA Sore to Soaring. Always consult a qualified professional before implementing any training, recovery, or medical plan. No affiliation or compensation exists between Sore to Soaring and any for-profit entity mentioned.

To learn more about Dr. Jason Zaremski and UF Health Sports Medicine, visit:
https://ufhealth.org

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