FEATURE: DR MARK JONES Following these assessments, Mark preparation. This aids athletes not only in In the event of an injury occurring during and his team are required to advise the their physical preparation for the game, a match, the protocols are followed: coaching staff about any injuries and or but also as a form of mental warm up; player loads which could potentially affect serving as a sort of checklist and a way of “Once myself and the head physio have any of the athletes’ ability to perform letting the mind tell the body when it is evaluated the injured player, from there in an upcoming game or training. time to go. we make contact with the coaching staff and begin the process of further Alerting the coaches to injuries is As part of this preparatory protocol, evaluation and diagnosis. certainly an obvious part of the job, physiotherapists are in charge of running however the importance of training loads prehab and movement warm-ups for the “To date, I have been fortunate enough is key to obtaining peak performance team. Another game day procedure to not need to transfer a player from the on match day. If a player has been over enacted by Mark sees the sports stadium to the hospital.” worked during training and the medical scientists monitor nutrition and hydration team miss this, it can prove to be a weak protocols which the players are Following a match, there is the need to link come the back half of a game. encouraged to follow. go through the injury report. In some cases, an injury will require further As with most things within the national With the global reach of football and a investigation the following day. “The team setup, there are protocols involved number of the team now based in Europe, situation can become difficult if a player with having the medical team fully many of the Socceroos’ games and camps requires an MRI or scans of another sort prepared for a game and trainings. Prior are conducted in Europe. and the match is taking place outside of to travel or a game, the medical and Australia,” Jones explained. emergency kits must be up-to-date and When overseas for a game, a match fully stocked in the inevitability that it commissioner’s meeting is held the day While Mark does enjoy the opportunity is required. before the game. This is part of the to travel as part of his role as Head Team typical match day preparation for Dr Doctor, it can be challenging being away Come game day, there is also a list of Jones. Once again, medical protocols from family: medical procedures before the match are outlined for the game which provides that are undertaken as a means of clarity and a clear procedure to follow in “Time away from my family is certainly the unlikely event of a serious accident the most difficult part of my job. or injury. Thankfully, my family is supportive of my aspirations and thus, makes the effort rewarding. VOLUME 36 • JUNE ISSUE 2018 9 sE/kcotsknihTfk