Introduction:
The role of a sports scientist is to provide context from research that aids in the decision-making process within sport/performance settings. Sports scientists have recently become more common at National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) member institutions. Information about the composition of current NCAA member institutions’ return-from-injury care teams, perceptions about the composition of an ideal care team, and athletic trainers’ (ATCs) collaboration with professionals for shared decision-making is lacking.

Aim of the study:
The purpose of this study was to investigate current NCAA return-from-injury care team composition, perceived ideal composition, and the hierarchy of professionals involved in shared decision-making.

Material and methods:
Two hundred fifty-three professionals working at NCAA institutions involved in return-from-injury care completed a web-based survey. Frequency analysis and correlations were used to report responses to closed-ended questions and thematic analysis was used for open-ended questions. The authors limited the findings to the application of sports scientist’s roles, due to the aims of this study.

Results:
At the Division I level, the results indicated 11% of care teams currently include a sports scientist and 55% of the respondents would include a sports scientist on their ideal care team; at the Division II level, 2% and 60%; Division III level, 2% and 42%. ATCs ranked professionals relied on for return-to-sport decision-making. Based on mean values, sports scientist was ranked 11 out of 17. The rationale for current rank order included: using current workplace model, scope, available resources, hierarchy, and desire for athlete-centered and collaborative care.

Conclusions:
These findings fill known gaps regarding care team composition and decision-making at NCAA member institutions and support continued pursuit of improved return-from-injury shared decision-making models