Athletic trainers are commonly responsible for clearing patients with ankle sprains for return to activity. What criteria athletic trainers typically use to determine return to activity readiness in this population remains unclear. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine criteria athletic trainers use to determine patients’ return to activity readiness following an ankle sprain. Participants varied in selected clinician-, patient-rated, and functional assessments for patients with ankle sprains. As many selected methods did not agree with expert consensus recommendations, more work is likely needed to instill best practices for evaluation of patients with ankle sprains.