Research to date has investigated the nationwide presence of athletic trainers in secondary schools for the past 30 years. These individual studies only encompass certain components of athletic training services and/or aspects of secondary schools.

PURPOSE:​ To examine the characteristics of athletic training services as well as the demographics of secondary schools such as school type, school size, and geographic location in Pennsylvania.

METHODS:​ Data was collected from a sample of 737 Pennsylvania secondary schools with various school types, school sizes, geographic settings, and athletic training services. This data was collected from public domain websites of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and the individual Pennsylvania secondary schools. Specifically, this study gave insight as to how the characteristics of the secondary schools (school type, school size, geographic setting) influence the athletic training services (athletic trainer (yes/no), number of athletic trainers (0-3 or more), athletic trainer employment provider) offered. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables. Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact and Pearson Chi-Square tests were conducted to assess the relationship between the school type, school size, and geographic location and the availability of athletic training services.

RESULTS:​ There were statistically significant (p < 0.001) relationships between the school type and school size and the athletic training services (yes/no and 0-3 or more). The rates of athletic training employment for public schools and the differing school sizes reflected previous research. The rates of athletic training employment for private schools and the ranging geographic locations varied from previous reports. Specifics regarding the number of athletic trainers employed and the athletic trainer employment providers were limited due to the lack and consistency of research.

CONCLUSION:​ Further efforts need to be made to ensure accessibility and accurate athletic training information is available by athletic training employment providers and the athletic trainer’s site of employment. Further research needs to continue assessing state-specific secondary school demographics and the athletic training services provided