Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C

Athletic Trainer at Rincon/University High School Tucson Az - NPI#1013937267 - BYU Cougars - Athletic Training is Health Care - LDS - Husband - Father - Grandpa

[Justin Goff-Burch @JustinGoffBurch]

Your PE licensure isn't a strength coach credential, because 75% of PE teachers serving in strength roles average a 45% score on a validated S&C knowledge assessment.
That's not an opinion. That's Kern et al., 2024.

[Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C @bart_peterson]

I am highly interested in the health and safety of clinical athletic trainers. I have initiated a research study examining occupational illness and injury rates within this population, with a specific focus on the incidence of cutaneous neoplasms (including previously unidentified skin lesions) and neurodegenerative disorders.
This research program further investigates occupational injury and illness among athletic trainers working in clinical settings, with particular emphasis on the incidence of skin precancers and skin cancers, as well as the prevalence and severity of neurological conditions within this population. The objective is to better characterize long-term occupational health risks associated with clinical athletic training practice and to inform future prevention and safety strategies.
Collaborative inquiries are welcome—please feel free to contact me via email if you are interested in contributing to or discussing this work.
Also, even if you aren't able to join me, please pass along my name and email to those you know that may have an interest in this area of research as well. @NATAFoundation @NATA1950

[Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C @bart_peterson]

@finney825 Karen: would you be interested in joining our writing team?

[Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C @bart_peterson]

I am highly interested in the health and safety of clinical athletic trainers. I have initiated a research study examining occupational illness and injury rates within this population, with a specific focus on the incidence of cutaneous neoplasms (including previously unidentified skin lesions) and neurodegenerative disorders.

This research program further investigates occupational injury and illness among athletic trainers working in clinical settings, with particular emphasis on the incidence of skin precancers and skin cancers, as well as the prevalence and severity of neurological conditions within this population. The objective is to better characterize long-term occupational health risks associated with clinical athletic training practice and to inform future prevention and safety strategies.

Collaborative inquiries are welcome—please feel free to contact me via email if you are interested in contributing to or discussing this work.

Also, even if you aren't able to join me, please pass along my name and email to those you know that may have an interest in this area of research as well. @NATA1950 @NATAFoundation

[Andy Morales @AndyMorales8]

Rincon University senior Vikram Nerendran joined an exclusive group by winning his third straight singles championship #azpreps365 thanks to Jason Miller for the interview.

[EMBER 🇺🇸 @upliftandlift]

@JonnyRoot_ Profanity is the parlance of the fool. Why curse when there is such a magnificent language with which to discourse?
— Theodore Roosevelt

I was PT this year for a college team. Most dropped the F-bomb constantly.

Whether Christian or not, cursing is low-level. We can do better!

[NATA Foundation @NATAFoundation]

🎉 Congrats to the 2026 Masters Student Research Grant awardees! 🎓🔬

Proud to support the next generation of AT researchers with $1,000 grants.

Thank you to our donors for making this possible! 💙

#NATAFoundation #FutureOfAT

[Auks ATC he/him/his @auksatc]

I’m really happy to remind everyone that they are important. The world is a better place with you in it. If you’re considering suicide call or text 988. You matter.

[Andy Morales @AZPreps365Andy]

5A No. 2 Cienega senior Caiden Mott has over 3,000 assists which appears to be a state record. He talks his team, a great passing game and targets that made his assists possible; His college choice what the Bobcats need to do down the stretch #azpreps365

[Matt Moody @matmoody]

I wasn't planning on saying anything publicly about last night's game. But when a parent from Concordia walks up after the forfeit and calls one of my 16-year-old players "cheap," I feel the need to respond.

First, to that parent: if you had a problem with the outcome, you should have been brave enough to bring it up with me instead of a teenager.

Now, let me paint the picture for why I brought up the situation during the game, because I'm particularly sensitive to this topic.

When I was 17, I pitched in every game of the 1999 5A KS State Tournament. The only reason I came out of the championship game was that I ran out of innings. That was the only rule back then. Throughout my high school career I regularly pitched twice in the same doubleheader and always at least twice a week. I don't put any blame on anybody. I wanted to do it. We just didn't understand back then, what happens to a young arm when velocity starts climbing into the upper 80s and 90s.

When I was 19 years old, as a freshman, in my very first college appearance at Fort Hays State, on my 16th pitch, my elbow dislocated, tearing both my Ulnar Collateral Ligament and Radial Collateral Ligament. Tommy John Surgery followed. I pitched three more years at Fort Hays, but I never threw as hard again, and never without constant, sometimes agonizing, pain. To this day, when I throw batting practice my hand swells and goes numb the rest of the night. I drive home from practice and can't use my right arm to steer. I sleep with my arm elevated or my hand swells up like a ballon by morning.

That is what these rules are trying to prevent.
Last night's game ended because Concordia used a pitcher who had thrown 78 pitches on Friday. Under KSHSAA rules, that requires four days of rest. Yesterday was three. It is not a gray area. It is not a judgment call. The rule exists, we are all forced to follow the same limits, it was violated, and the penalty is a forfeit. (And in my opinion, pitching a very talented pitcher like that after just 50 pitches on 3 days rest is irresponsible).

No, we did not want to win that way. We were winning at the time and we were going to win anyway. We had our two best arms left and they were out of arms. That's how this works at the 4A level. You run out of experienced arms and the flood gates open.

Which brings me to something I find genuinely troubling in my first year as a head coach, after two years as Wamego's pitching coach: the clear majority of programs push pitch counts to their absolute limit. Pull a guy at 75 pitches, bring him back on the minimum rest to throw 105 more. Repeat. At velocities that are sky-rocketing. We have 16-year-olds throwing 90 mph, and the current pitch count limits are not even close to restrictive enough. We are trading young athletes' futures for wins. It's being done openly and very proudly.

I'm sure my opinions will be laughed at or disagreed with by most, but I could not care less.

When you have to go to inexperienced pitchers, walks stack up, scoreboards get ugly. The team loses confidence and things spiral. It's a gut punch that feels like it's never going to stop... and when you look at the board there's still just one out.

But that's what we signed up for. To coach young kids. To develop players. To give young kids opportunities. Build depth the right way. Not to exploit the talent that showed up. It's not always pretty but it's better than winning at the cost of kid's futures.

And yes, there's an ABSOLUTE systemic cost too. Last year we had two pitchers who deserved All-State consideration, but because we don't run them on short rest, their accumulated stats don't compete (IP and Ks). The sport media doesn't pay attention because there are jaw-dropping, accumulated stats all over the place that make for better headlines. When all-league and all-state accolades are built on accumulation, programs who are cautious about arms get penalized. That system needs to change (but it won't). There's a lot of nuance, but if a pitcher throws more than 50 pitches they should get at least 5 days off and coaches should be allowed to work with pitchers in the offseason so that there are more developed arms ready for the season. There are all kinds of flaws in this system.

We will keep doing this the right way. It costs us wins and it's not fun sometimes, but I have a permanent reminder of what happens when you don't.

[Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C @bart_peterson]

I STAND IN SUPPORT, WITH MY FELLOW ATHLETIC TRAINERS!

[Andy Renner, LAT, ATC, ESSAT-C @Renner79AT]

I stand in support with my fellow ATs

[Perry Weather @perryweather]

Congratulations to Elyse Abbott of Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, AZ, our third member of the 2026 AT Excellence Award Top 10! 🎉

Elyse received 176 nominations from her school community, from athletes, coaches, parents, and colleagues alike all speaking to the same thing: she shows up, every single day, for every single athlete.

She runs her program solo, stays late after games, handles emergencies with calm confidence, and still finds time to teach sports medicine in the classroom. Former athletes credit her with inspiring them to pursue careers in physical therapy and sports medicine. That's the kind of impact that outlasts any season.

Congrats Elyse! 🏆

[Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C @bart_peterson]

@jedekiah Sure YOU can, SURE you can, Sure you CAN .... 🛑 STOP 🛑. THIS IS UNSANE! Stop tearing another down, they didn't do it your way, that doesn't make either of you 'righter' than the other, nor does it make either one ' wronger '.

[Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C @bart_peterson]

@GonzoCoug93

[Stephanie Kuzydym @stephkuzy]

🚨📜 South Carolina passes Smart Heart Act requiring AEDs in schools (as well as drills) and cardiac emergency response plans in public and charter schools.

https://t.co/3tKQAQnth7

[Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C @bart_peterson]

@GonzoCoug93

[Stephanie Kuzydym @stephkuzy]

A Louisiana high school track athlete with an undiagnosed heart condition was saved by his school nurse & athletic trainer through CPR and an AED.💛

This quote from the nurse should be read by all school administrators/educators/coaches. #SaferSidelines

[Javier Morales @JavierJMorales]

The Tucson Unified School District board approved the hire of Gary Lewis as the new Director of Interscholastics tonight. Lewis, a coach, teacher and administrator for almost 35 years at various high schools, talked about the important development, noting, "We have to figure out, how do we impact the lives of those kids who their last competition will be their last game in high school? So making sure that all of our coaches understand that, that those kids leave with some tools that will help them, whatever their future endeavors are."

Story
- https://t.co/VWXn1PTyG7
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[Bart Peterson, MSS, AT/L, ESSAT-C @bart_peterson]

Welcome Back to @tucsonunified Gary!

Gary Lewis chosen new Tucson Unified School District’s Director of Interscholastics - https://t.co/eT7jjLDwjT

[THSADA @OfficialTHSADA]

Athletic trainers don’t get an offseason and they rarely get a break.

While others reset, they’re still showing up, putting athletes first every single day. Too often, “they get lost in the sauce.”

@WacoISD is changing that by scheduling meetings, staying connected, and making sure their trainers are seen, supported, and valued.

Because supporting those who care for athletes isn’t optional, it’s necessary.

[Latter-day Saint Quotes @LDSquotable]

President Dallin H. Oaks

“This Easter season, we testify that Jesus Christ is risen. He lives. He is the Way. Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice and Resurrection are the ultimate evidence of God’s love. He called us His friends and declared: ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ His Atonement is a universal gift made possible by His love and the love of the Father.”

[Gatorade Performance Partner @GPPartner]

Thank you, Athletic Trainers! As we wrap up #NATM2026, we celebrate the dedication, expertise, and commitment you bring to protecting the health and well-being of athletes every day.