Dr. James Worthen and members of his orthopedic staff hosted a cookout for the coaches of Chilton County to promote a clinic that will be available on Friday nights in the fall from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“Anything that helps my guys stay locally is huge,” Jemison head coach Van Clements said. “It’s a big thing not having to drive 35 to 40 minutes and fight that traffic.”

Injuries that occur are not always of the major variety that require surgery, but often times it is minor injuries that can keep a player sidelined if not handled properly.

Certain injuries may not come into question until hours after a game or even the next morning. As a result, the hotline will also be available on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to midday.

“I think it’s outstanding that we’re going to have something on Friday nights that can give the parent’s a peace of mind,” Thorsby head coach Daryl Davis said. “They’ll [doctors] tell them what they need to do and get them started on the right track.”

Now that the coaches have been informed about St. Vincent’s plans during the cookout, the next step is to pass along that message to parents so that they know of the options on the table.

“If it’s going to be available, we’re definitely going to relay that option,” Clements said. “You don’t want to wait until Monday, because then you’ve lost two days of treatment.”

Although the clinic is designed to help with football-related injuries, a hotline will be available Tuesdays and Thursdays for other sports and junior varsity football.

“The first thing we do is call Barry [Baker],” Thorsby volleyball coach Leighsa Robinson said. “He is a great outlet to recommend us to who we need to see and point us in the right direction.”

According to Davis, parents often look to the coach after a game with questions about what precautions their son or daughter should take to help with an injury. Now he or she can refer them to St. Vincent’s in the county.

The clinic and hotline are designed to be beneficial for everyone involved and leave the diagnosing of injuries to the professionals.

“It’s just better,” Davis said.

Coaches from multiple sports and schools attended the cookout. Maplesville was the only athletic program in the county without representation at the event.

The cookout was held at a private residence and members of the Chilton County Hospital Board were on hand.