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.