Written by Heidi Tabor
The Ganus Athletic Center is currently under construction as part of a twofold project including building additions to benefit both Harding’s athletic training program and football program.
But in order to expand, the athletic program is going to need funding.
The Athletic Training Education Program at Hard- ing is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Educa- tion. To obtain accreditation, certain guidelines and criteria are must be met. However, at the last site visit, it wasdetermined that the program was growing and would need a larger facility to meet the needs of the program.
“Dr. [David] Burks began to plan at that time to have a facility ready before the next site visit, which will be following the 2012 academic year,” Athletic Training Education Director Randy Lambeth said.
Additionally, the need for improvements in football facilities became evident among coaches and members of the athletic department. Locker rooms and weight training facilities are dated and unable to hold the number of athletes currently involved with the program, Lambeth said.
“The current facilities were designed for a team ofabout 75 players, and were constructed as far back as the 1960s regarding the weight room,” Head Football Coach Ronnie Huckeba said.
According to Lambeth,additions to the athletic training program facilities will include an athletic training clinic, a classroom for ATEP, offices for staff members, an evaluation area, a rehabilitation area, a room for plunge pools and whirlpools, and a storage area. Football additions include a new lockerroom and equip- ment areas, a weight room and a meeting room that will be used for recruits, team meet- ings and as a classroom for the department of kinesiology.
“Like all construction, this is a sliding calendar,”Lambethsaid. “Factors such as weather, materials and other distractions will affect the completion date. However, the target date is the first of August so we will be able to use the facility for athletic teams as they return from the summer and begin preparation for the fall competition.”
Both programs said they feel it will be positive for both trainers and athletes.
“More room and up-to-date facilities will allow us to train and prepare our athletes more efficiently,” Huckeba said.
Additionally, the athletic training clinic will help students prepare to pass their certification exam, and will enable them to get hands-on experience that will ready themfor clinics or athletic teams they will work with outside of Harding. A certified athletic trainer will be on duty at all times, and students will work under their direction.
Lambeth credits Burks with much of the hard work involved in this kind of building project.
“Dr. Burks has a great vision for Harding and has worked hard to provide the facilities needed to make the education programs as well as student services the best they can be,” Lambeth said. “This facility will be a great addition to Harding’s campus and will be used to help young people be prepared for their roles as Christian professionals.”
