The Physical Trainer’s Guide to Informing an Athlete That He or She is Out for the Season
Thursday, February 10th, 2011There are some aspects of a job that you may know are always coming, but you may not want to face them. Though we all prepare ourselves for the unthinkable, it is bound to come our way at some point in our careers. When you take on a job where you are caring for others there are some situations that you hope to never face. When you are a physical trainer, you hope to never have to tell somebody that they can’t play anymore. To many athletes, there is nothing else in the world for them besides the sport that they play. You don’t want to have to be the one to end that, but in some instances you have to. So here we take a look at how you can handle this frequent but very frustrating situation.
Be Gentle but Straightforward
The worst thing that you can do is show a lack of compassion. Almost as bad as that is working around the point and never really getting to it. As a trainer, part of your job is to maintain professionalism and to care for your athletes at all times. Though this may seem like a rather difficult task in light of this type of circumstance, this is when you really have to put on your game face. Though you may wish to spare their feelings, you do have to be straightforward about the situation at hand. Don’t go about it abruptly, but by all means be honest with them. They will want to know what lies ahead of them and they will rely on you for the right way to move forward.
Review the Injury and the Consequences
Sometimes a bit of shock may set in after an accident or injury, so it is your job to review what has happened and work through the details of what could happen if they go against medical advice. This is no easy task because most athletes think that they can work through the pain. Most are thinking in the here and now rather than down the road. They need to understand all of the details of the injury itself, as well as the consequences if they decide to work against your medical advice. Be honest with them and tell them the long lasting effects if they fight the advice and take their own course. This is where your professional opinion can really speak volumes.
Explain a Plan of Action for Getting Back to Normal
The next big question from your athlete is going to be what they can do next. They are sure to want to know how they can get back to normal and how they can regain strength and start playing their sport again. You need to work with them, hand in hand, to come up with a plan of action that makes sense for them and for their body. Though it may take time, you can define a schedule and a plan of attack that makes the most sense. This may be a long road, but they need to know that you are in it with them until the end.
M. Ellen Ward blogs on ways to find and enroll in schools offering a masters in physical therapy online.
