No athlete ever wants to be injured. The endless physical therapy appointments, the pitying stares from teammates, and the return-to-play date that always seems just out of reach can be exhausting. Unfortunately, injury is part of life for elite athletes, especially in field hockey. Right now, I am taking two weeks of rest to recover from a back strain that struck at the worst possible time: Junior National Team Tryouts. Experiencing such a high-stakes event while injured was incredibly difficult, but it also taught me important lessons about resilience, adaptability, and listening to my body.
On Wednesday morning, just two days before tryouts, I woke up with a strange soreness in my lower back. I didn’t think much of it, and despite the nagging pain throughout the day, I still went to the indoor courts that evening to get extra touches before tryouts. In my infinite wisdom, I decided to run suicides and “push through the pain,” just like my favorite motivational videos always suggested. I pushed and pushed, but the pain never subsided.
That night, I knew I had gone too far. I iced my back and applied as much Biofreeze as possible, hoping for a miraculous recovery by morning. Deep down, I already knew the damage had been done, and I was in for a long weekend at tryouts. Before the first whistle of camp, I tried every remedy in the book: intense stretches, hour-long rolling sessions, and even considering a last-minute massage. Despite these efforts, I was far from the peak condition I had trained for.
The injury forced me to alter my movements on the field, hindering my performance. I couldn’t cut as hard for a 50/50 ball or stay as low in one-on-one defense. The setbacks were frustrating, but with the advice of my coaches, I was able to refocus on executing simple skills and demonstrating my game IQ despite the injury. Thankfully, I earned a spot on the U18 National Team, but the experience also left me with a lesson I will carry for the rest of my career.
From now on, I will listen to the first warning signs from my body instead of ignoring them and trying to power through. The “push through pain” mentality, often glorified on social media, influences how many athletes view their physical limits. I now understand that while pushing myself is important, respecting my body’s boundaries is essential to staying healthy and happy, not only in sport, but in life.
