How to Handle an Injured Player

Athletes in any sport are subject to injury at one time or another. Injuries occur across all levels of competition. Youth, high school, college and professional sports teams are all affected when players suffer injuries. Athletes can take steps to prevent injuries, such as good fitness and conditioning, but ultimately nothing guarantees that an athlete won't get hurt. When an athlete is injured, the best approach is to be supportive so he can recover as soon as possible.

Instructions

    • 1

      Treat the player's injuries. The first objective is to resolve the player's pain. This can be accomplished in different ways depending upon the injury. Cold therapy is often the first technique used to immediately alleviate swelling and inflammation. Sometimes surgery will be necessary if the injury is severe enough

    • 2

      Prohibit the player from practicing. Rest is one of the most important components of recovering from an injury.

    • 3

      Rehabilitate the injury. After the initial phase of resolving the player's pain, steps must be taken to repair the injury. These techniques include: physical therapy, ultrasound treatment, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, heat therapy, cold therapy, laser therapy, magnetic field therapy, Corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory drugs, interferential therapy, and hydrotherapy.

    • 4

      Monitor the status of the player's rehabilitation closely. Make sure his progress corresponds to the physical benchmarks that the athletic trainer, rehabilitation therapist and doctor (if necessary) have agreed upon. These include restoring full motion to the injured joint, restoring structural integrity to the injured body part and restoring muscle strength.

    • 5

      Re-introduce the player to practice and games. Balance and coordination can be developed during physical therapy, but it takes actual practice and game speed scenarios to achieve this to full effect. The same goes for a player's fitness.

    • 6

      Restore the player's confidence. This may be as simple telling a player you believe in him and letting him return to his position. Or, it might entail the help of a sports psychologist. The more devastating the injury, the more likely it is a player will have confidence issues. It is essential that this confidence in the player's ability be restored before the athlete returns to full game action.