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.