So, you just got injured?

There is nothing worse that seeing your team mates playing, going through immense highs and tough lows together, while you are not able to help them. This causes lack of motivation and even hate towards the game. Can you deal with the mental side of a physical injury?

The key during these times is to approach everything with the same levels of intensity as you would when fully fit.

Understand your injury

Intense emotions drag you down during the early stages of injury. Anger, frustration and anxiety will overcome you. The best way to deal with these emotions is to accept what has happened. If you try to forget, you are pushing everything under the proverbial carpet.

Your emotions are related to anxiety and stress. All you can think about is the effects time out of the game will have on your career. Will someone else replace you, seize their opportunity, resulting in you being surplus to requirements on your return? You may be in your last year of a professional contract. You could be released at the end of your current tenure. And that means the end of your career and future earning potential.

Overcome this feeling.

Use the medical professionals. Ask them question, ask about previous athletes who have overcome similar injuries. Ask about the positive effects the recovery and rehab process can have on the body.

Use the opportunity to speak with players who have overcome similar problems. Ask about their recovery times and current bill of health. This will help you understand that you injury will not have a profound impact on the future.

Finally speak with the coach or captain. Relay your knowledge about your injury. Relaying this information will help you gain further understanding in the same way as speaking about tactical game plans.

Engage in recovery

The key to overcoming a lack of motivation is to throw yourself into the recovery process.

Remember you are no good to your team mates if you are lacking motivation and miserable. This will slowly create a divide between you and your team. You will become even more neglected.

However, you are of great use if you are working hard, helping out, and showing you are fully committed to coming back. Follow every piece of advice from resting, to icing, to exercises and nutrition to the letter. If you are fully committed to this you will feel greater improvements and these will happen faster.

Once in this cycle it becomes addictive. You continue to want to see these improvements and it motivates you further. Similarly, you can help your team by giving extra throw downs if you can, offering technical advice and keeping spirits high in a tired dressing room.

If you do this, your team will grow huge respect for you and they will include you. You will feel closer to the team and closer to all the emotions that they go through on and off the field, as you will feel you are going through it with them. Again this bond becomes addictive and motivations levels are enhanced..

Finally during the latter stages of rehab when functional movements return you must ensure that you do not succumb to the frustration of not being rushed back.

Throw yourself into the final stages, stick to everything you are being told and understand how this will benefit you in the weeks to come when you are back firing on all cylinders. Engage with your team mates in the way that you have been throughout the whole process. That way you will motivate yourself to work for them as well as yourself as you realise a fully fit you is of more use to them than the unfit you.

Summary

• Understand your injury and what needs to be done to overcome it.
• Speak openly about your injury, remember it is not a sign of weakness.
• Support your teammates in any way you can so you can feel closer to them.
• Follow your rehab and advice to the letter to ensure greater results quicker to get the addictive improvement feeling to enhance motivation.

Jordan Finney is a cricket coach and sport psychology student.