To an athlete, being injured is usually pretty high up on the list of biggest fears. Most players have been through some sort of injury that leaves them sitting through practices, workouts, or even games while they await recovery.
This time sitting out can feel never ending and is something that no athlete wants to go through.
No matter how long this recovery period lasts, the time on the sidelines entails things that every injured player can relate to whether they're currently injured or have been in the past.
1. The time span you go through where you just can't believe you weren't magically immune to injury...
Forget the fact that your sport has put wear and tear on your body for years. You stretched and iced before and after every game; you should have been able to shake this. This injury obviously should not have happened to you...
2. The aftermath of this time when you come to terms with being on the reserved list for a while...
Soooooo.... how does one not play a sport? What can be done in the spare time not filled with work outs? Can somebody teach a class on how to function without playing for this period of time?
3. Spending so much time getting treatment that you become immune to the feel of things such as the TENS unit and ice...
"Tell me when to stop."
Go ahead and turn that thing all the way up...
"You probably need to put something around the ice bag so it's not too cold"
... proceeds to place ice bag directly on injury.
4. When season starts and you realize you literally can't do anything in terms of playing...
"Hey Coach, have anything I can do?"
also known as,
"Please, Coach give me something to do.
I am dying just sitting here."
Things such as keeping the books and making sure everyone stays hydrated become an injured athlete's specialty and the spot they choose to sit at during games becomes sacred.
5. When fans who come to games ask why you're not dressing out and you're trying to stay positive...
Just smile and tell them you're on your way to recovery...
don't let them see how miserable you are...
6. When your whole team is working out and you feel horrible just chilling while they work hard...
Nothing feels worse than watching your team work hard to get better from the sidelines.
7. .... but you know you still have a role on the team so you take your cheering responsibility very seriously
A true athlete and teammate always gives the most and best of what they have to offer so that means...
8. When you've been going to physical therapy for what feels like forever and it just isn't improving at the rate you wished for...
Okay so maybe it hasn't actually been that long but you were hoping for a speedy recovery, and by that you mean..
Umm well basically instantly would be nice....
9. When somebody "jokingly" ask if you're faking it because you don't want to work out
...why is this sort of question even a thing?
10. .... and of course, obsessively counting down the days until you're released to play
