Welcome to SidelineOps: Emergency Preparedness in Athletics

Emergency preparedness in athletics is often discussed, but rarely operationalized. I created SidelineOps to change that.

This blog exists at the intersection of sports medicine and emergency management - two of my favorite things. The two disciplines that share the same goal: protecting people when things go wrong.

If you work in athletics, you know that emergencies rarely happen the way that the written Emergency Action Plan says they should. The goal of this blog is to explore how we can move beyond the static EAP and build a system that works when seconds matter most.

Why SidelineOps Exists

For many athletic organizations, emergency preparedness stops once an EAP is written. But a written plan alone does not guarantee an effective response. Where we struggle is moving from theory to practice.

In emergency management, preparedness involves far more than documentation. It includes hazard identification, operational coordination, training, and clear leadership structures during incidents.

Athletic environments are complex operational settings that include athletes, spectators, coaches, medical staff, administrators, emergency responders, and many more. So, when that emergency occurs, the success and outcome depends on coordination between everyone in those groups.

SidelineOps explores how emergency management frameworks can strengthen athletic healthcare planning and help organizations move from planning to real-world readiness.

So, Who am I?

My name is Anna Sundy, and I work at the intersection of athletic training and emergency management - event medicine.

As an athletic trainer, I have spent years working on the sideline where medical response meets real-world operational complexity. I've learned through experience how to call audibles during emergency plans because the one provided to me simply didn't suffice.

Through my work and supplemental education in emergency management, I have also seen how structured preparedness and practice frameworks CAN dramatically improve outcomes during critical incidents. I'll share insights from athletic healthcare, emergency preparedness planning, and mass gathering medicine, along with practical strategies that organizations can use to strengthen safety at sporting events of all levels.

Closing Thoughts

Emergency preparedness should not begin in the after-action review. It begins long before that first whistle blows.

If you are passionate about improving safety in athletics, you're in the right place.

Follow along as SidelineOps explores how emergency management and sports medicine can work together to build safer athletic environments.

If there's a topic you would like to see covered, feel free to reach out or leave a comment!