Athletes encounter injuries even if they don’t want to, for some people it can take the slightest movement and others it could take a hard collision for them to get hurt. They could try and prevent the injuries all they want but there is no clear way of getting out of them. Sports, much like life, can be very unpredictable.
It’s hard for the athletes to hear they can’t play the sport they were raised around.
“Hearing I couldn’t wrestle for state crushed me, I was really looking forward to it. I worked so hard throughout the season just to hear I couldn’t perform. I kept fighting for the sport I love so I can come back next year stronger,” said Junior Clint Herrick.
Athletes go through training to get stronger from the injury whether it be short term or a long term. If the athlete is injured then they could use help from a professional to get back to their healthy state.
“Transitions back to sports is always a happy/nervous feeling time as I am excited that the student athlete gets to return to something that they really enjoy doing, but nervous from the fact that you always hope I have prepared them well enough to go back to their sport and not having a re injury,” said trainer Trevor Volklen.
When the student athlete that has a big impact on the team gets hurt, there becomes a scared frame of mind for the coaches. They need to figure out how to place their team back together without that missing player.
“When one of my best athletes get injured in a game, I immediately start hoping it’s not a major injury. If it is however an injury that takes him out of the game then that’s where our job comes into play and to make sure that the student next up is ready mentally and physically for the game and to have the rest of the team to believe in that person,” said offensive line Coach Gaines.
Students do everything they can to get back out to the sport they love. The athletes try and find what motivates them to fight through their set back.
“The injury didn’t affect my views of my sport, it only made me stronger and make up for the time I was not apart of. I have trust in my knee and that’s what motivated me to get back out there and be successful,” said Herrick.
Trainers do the best job they can in order to have the player to go back to the sport they love. They have to get the athletes to have trust in themselves and in the trainers to get them well again.
“I truly enjoy watching athletics and it always motivates me to get the student athlete back to the previous level of athleticism after an injury. That keeps me striving to learn new techniques and continue to advance myself as a professional so that I can continue to provide the best care for the students athletes,” said Trevor Volklen.
Athletes love going out to the sport they love and performing well as they do it. Athletes may bounce back from injuries quickly or it could take a lengthy amount of recovery time. Trainers look out for the players and give the treatment fit and get them back to playing the sport they love.