View From the Sideline

            This season I was forced to view the game that I love from a very different vantage point.  Being sidelined with a season ending injury meant that I was going to be watching my team play and practice from behind the confines of the sideline.  I never could have imagined how hard this task would be and the toll that it would take on me mentally and emotionally.  I already knew the physical toll that this injury had taken on me, but I could have never predicted the effects that this injury would have on me in other aspects of my life.  I feel like I have been on a mental and emotional roller coaster for the past few months.  Even though it has been really tough to get though this, my driving force has been positivity and to be grateful for everything that I have and have been able to experience. 

            One of the hardest things to come to grips with was that I was not going to be able to play soccer for an entire season with my teammates.  This took awhile to sink in for me.  I kept thinking that I would just be out for a bit and then be back in with the team before I knew it, but that unfortunately was not the case.  One of the hardest things to swallow was that I was never going to get a chance to play with the seniors again.  I was definitely sad when I realized this and wished more than anything that I could’ve shared this season with them.  However, instead of dwelling on what I missed out on I want to do everything I can to get back and be able to play next year and make up for the season I lost playing with the seniors.

            One of the hardest parts of watching from the sideline is that no matter how the game was going I wasn’t able to contribute.  This was so frustrating for me because I just wanted to jump up off the bench and run out on the field and kick the ball around.  I wanted to be able to have an impact on the game and take part in the celebration after a teammate scored.  It was the little things that I felt like I was missing out on.

            When people think of an injured athlete they don’t really think about much more than the fact that they are injured.  Most people don’t even consider what the athlete is going through mentally and emotionally.  The biggest part of getting over an injury isn’t the physical aspect like most people would assume.  How an athlete deals with the injury mentally plays a huge role in the athlete’s recovery process.  My advice to athletes who are sidelined for the season is to keep a positive mindset and be grateful for the opportunities that they have had.  Instead of dwelling on their current situation they should focus their thoughts on getting better and what they can look forward to when they make a full recovery and are back playing. 

            Don’t let the sideline be a barrier that separates you from your team; instead view it as a motivator.  The sideline is like a finish line that, once crossed, indicates the completion of the rehab process.  Each day work hard to make strides in your recovery and make your way closer to crossing the finish line.  There is no greater feeling than accomplishing your goal and crossing back on to the playing field with your teammates.

Supporting the Team

            Building a support system that will stand by you throughout the rehab process goes beyond your fellow injured athletes.  Perhaps the biggest form of support that one can have is the support of their team.  Having a team behind you is one of the greatest feelings in the world.  The support of a team can provide strength for the injured athlete to overcome the adversity they are facing and keep them motivated to get better each and every day.  However, I feel like the support goes both ways.  Although you may no longer be able to be out there playing beside your teammates due to your injury, it does not mean that you are any less a member of the team than before.  Your role becomes even more important and powerful now.  You get the opportunity to support your team and provide them with encouragement to get through every practice and game.  I feel that being in this position has a sense of power to it because it takes a strong person to set aside the tough obstacles they are facing in order to focus on the success of their fellow teammates.  These actions have the power to inspire and motivate teammates to get the most out of the opportunities that are presented to them.

            When sitting on the sideline watching your teammates play, it is so hard to not feel like you are letting them down.  No matter how much you try and support your teammates while being injured, it just never compares to what it is like when you are out there playing with the team.  Every season has its ups and downs and it is hard to show your teammates you are there for them and know what they are going through because you aren’t able to play.  I may not be able to suit up on the field with my teammates, but that doesn’t change the way I support each and every one of them.  
            I am still the same person I have always been, regardless of the toll that my injury has taken on my playing ability.  I feel that too often people think that they should just worry about getting themselves healthy and not worry about supporting their team because they can’t actually play their sport.  This is the complete opposite of what should be done.  An injured athlete should support their teammates during this time more than ever.  This type of action sends the message to your teammates that you are staying positive and are still committed to the team regardless of the hardships you are facing.  Just remember when faced with an injury that puts a halt to your athletic career, support yourself, but most importantly support your team because together you can get through anything.

Athletes Supporting Athletes

            Nothing is more helpful in the injury rehab process than having the support and encouragement of those around you.  One of the most important things that I have noticed with my personal experience is how there is a sense of comradery built between fellow injured athletes.   Day in and day out, I am surrounded by athletes in the training room who are all there for the very same purpose that I am.  We are all there to get healthy and back to playing the sport we love.  This shared passion is what brings us together and forms a support system among athletes.  We all know how each other is feeling and can relate to what each other are going through.  Having this insight allows us to motivate and encourage each other to be successful and keep working hard through the tough times.
            I find myself walking around campus and I will run into a fellow student athlete who is recovering from an injury.  We will stop and talk to see how each other are doing as well as exchange a few positive words of encouragement.  I enjoy the opportunity to talk with other athletes because they know exactly what I am going through, whereas some people don’t quite understand.  Bonds, that may not have been created if it weren’t for the shared trait of having an injury, are formed among these athletes.  These bonds can have more of an effect on the injury recovery process than you may realize.
            One of the most rewarding aspects of being apart of this injured athlete support system is seeing people recovery from their injury and get back on the playing field.  Seeing other athletes make a full recovery inspires me to keep pushing forward because it just shows that I can be there someday too.  Through all the ups and down that are experienced with the rehab process, athletes always stick together and help each other out.  Many tasks are made easier with the help of other people; let your recovery from your injury be one of those.  Don’t go through it all alone because there are people out there who truly care and are eager to support you and see you succeed.