Sidelined

Graphic by Kylee Weber

Being on the sidelines is not the easiest thing for an athlete to endure. Not being able to play the sport that you love and grew up playing is difficult to comprehend. You go to practice and watch your teammates play the game while you sit on the sideline. This is the definition of torture for an athlete. If you have ever been injured, sick or unable to play your sport or participate in your organization, you know how this feels.

Unable to do something because you physically cannot is difficult. You have to force your body from reacting like it normally would. You may begin to feel left out or not an athlete anymore, but this is not true; whether you are able to participate or not, you are an athlete at heart. To some this is difficult to understand because you have not been told that you cannot play.

I am currently enduring this torture and mental game of if I am still an athlete or even a part of my organization anymore. A month ago, I was diagnosed with a concussion and was told I was not cleared for physical activity or sports. This was a huge mental (and physical) setback for me because this is my last season playing the sport I love. Mentally, being on the sideline is difficult to comprehend. You can feel useless or even depressed in some states.

Physically, being on the sideline can put your body into shock in some ways. Your body becomes comfortable with this new routine of not really doing anything. I am normally exhausted because I am used to running around and always doing something for my sport. Now that I have a concussion, I am unable to do that. The physical toll of stopping a sport is indescribable and will affect each person.
 

Every day, I sit on the sideline at practice with a brave face doing whatever I can to still be a part of the team. However, I can’t help but ask myself, am I still an athlete? Do they still see me as their teammate? Am I even one of them?
 

To those who may be asking themselves that same question, being an athlete or a member of something is not about playing time, the number or how old you are. To be an athlete means that you are dedicated to a sport that you would do anything for. Being an athlete means putting in countless hours of blood, sweat and tears into making yourself better. Being sidelined in an organization does not define who you are, it does not change anything. You are still the athlete you were before, only this time with a few bumps and bruises. Each day will get easier as you get closer and closer to stepping back into your athletic routine.