Free Communications Program The NATA Foundation’s Free Communications program, is often the first chance an AT has to present their research and clinical case studies on a topic during the NATA convention. Through 2020, more than 7,900 oral and poster presentations have been provided through the Free Communications program. The Free Communications program provides a forum for researchers and clinicians to disseminate research and clinical case studies. Those abstracts selected by the Committee are published in the Supplement to the Journal of Athletic Training and are presented at the NATA Convention via oral or poster presentation. The Free Communications Committee is a subcommittee of the NATA Foundation Research Committee. The role of this group is to solicit and review abstracts for inclusion in the Free Communications program. Free Communications Program in the News Additional Information on Free Communications Program Process The NATA Foundation is thankful for SEATA sponsoring the 2020 Free Communications Program. The abstract submission window for 2021 is now closed. Award Categories: The Free Communications Committee and NATA Foundation Board of Directors have approved new award categories for the Free Communications submissions. The new categories will include 5 types of awards across the research spectrum, which will all be presented as Oral Presentations. Free Communications Awards Scoring Rubric Pre-Professional/Professional Student – Individuals eligible for this award would be undergraduate students or entry-level students who are pursuing education to become an athletic trainer (i.e., pre-ATC credential). Post-Professional Advanced Clinical Track Student – Individuals eligible for this award would already have their athletic training credential but are still a student pursuing further education for the goal of becoming an advanced clinician and includes advanced master’s degree and residents. Post-Professional Terminal Degree Student – Individuals eligible for this award would already have their athletic training credential but are still a student pursuing further education in a terminal degree (e.g, DAT, PhD, EdD, DHSc/DHS, ScD/DSc, DHEd) Early-Career– Individuals eligible for this award would be working in their current position and have < 7 years of experience since being a student, including postdoctoral fellows, faculty, staff, other. Established Career – Individuals eligible for this award would be working in their current position and have at least 7 years of experience since being a student, including: faculty, staff, other. NEW! Poster Tours: Poster tours will be a new addition to the 2021 Free Communications Program. The Free Communications Committee will select 4 experts to host four separate 1-hour tours focused on hot topics. Tours will include 8 to 12 posters. Each tour will be limited to 20 attendees. Student Exchange Program Announcement: To align with the Free Communication Committee’s mission and the NATA Foundation’s strategic priorities, the Free Communications Committee has voted to eliminate the Student Exchange Program. Students can still present their research during the NATA convention through the Free Communications Program by submitting their abstract through the peer-review track. Every abstract submitted to the Free Communications Program is reviewed by the committee, allowing the committee to better advance its mission to the “discovery, dissemination and application of scientific knowledge in athletic training domains through written and oral forum.” Students are encouraged to submit through the peer-review track of the Free Communications Program Submission GuidelinesPresentations GuidelinesModerator Guidelines2021 Call for Free Communications Abstracts and Submission Instructions Patient Release of Information Form Common Reasons Leading to Rejection of Clinical Case Study Abstracts Disclosure and Presenter Commitment Policy Style Guide for Cultural Competency Required Submission Elements Free Communications Advisor Sponsorship Oral Presentation Guidelines Poster Presentation Guidelines Rapid Fire Oral Presentation Guidelines E-POSTER PRESENTATION GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS To help deliver an efficient take-home message from your online presentation we encourage presenters to adopt a “Twitter” poster format. The Links below will assist with creating these. How to create a “Twitter” poster “Twitter” poster Template Examples: Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Rapid Fire Oral Moderator Guidelines Oral Moderator Guidelines Moderator Script About Us Board of Directors Committees News Awards Education Scholarships Current Scholarship Endowments Scholarship Awardees How to Apply Student Writing Contest Faculty Mentor Program FAQ’s Research Research Grants Grant Priorities Current Grant Endowments Research Grant Awardees Free Communications Program Free Communications Awards Distinguished Scholar Lecture Exchange AT Research Agenda The AT Profession AT Education Position Statements AT Strategic Alliance AT Glossary Support Ways To Give Donate Now Recurring Gifts Gifts of Stocks and Bonds Donor Giving Societies Events Special Campaigns Scholarship Sponsorship Research Grant Sponsorship