Navigating and Overcoming Injuries

Injuries are an inevitable part of sports, and how an athlete handles these setbacks can define their career. Resilient athletes manage and overcome injuries by staying focused on recovery and maintaining a positive attitude. They treat rehabilitation as their next competition and commit fully to returning stronger than before.

Alex Morgan is a prime example. She holds an Olympic gold medal and two World Cup titles, but her path hasn’t been without injury. Between winning gold and her first World Cup, Morgan experienced a serious leg injury that sidelined her for much of 2014. Yet she returned stronger, leading her team to multiple championships. Her resilience came from treating recovery with the same heart she gives to the game.

Morgan once said:

“Always work hard, never give up, and fight until the end because it’s never really over until the whistle blows.” 

That mindset applies just as much during rehab as during competition.

Klay Thompson offers another powerful comeback story. After winning titles in 2015, 2017, and 2018, Thompson suffered a knee injury in the 2019 Finals. As he prepared for a return, he was struck by another injury that pushed his absence to 941 days. Doubts crept in daily during that stretch.

Thompson admitted:

“I doubted [myself] every day.” 

He returned in 2022 and helped the Warriors win another championship, proof that resilience isn’t just about healing the body, but rebuilding the mind.

Resilient athletes like Morgan and Thompson understand that recovery is part of the journey. They shift the battleground from the field or court to the training room. Every stretch, rehab session, and precautionary measure becomes an integral element of their return. Their dedication to recovery ensures not just a return, but often a renewed version of themselves.

This is Mental Strength.

For Players

Do:

• Treat rehab and recovery like training,  give it your best effort, and stay consistent.

• Use the Morgan quote or Thompson’s honesty against doubt, remind yourself that the struggle is part of the comeback.

Don’t:

• Rushing back before you're ready, risking re-injury, derails more than time.

• Let self-doubt win, you’ll hear voices telling you “you aren’t the same.” Silence them with effort.

For Parents

Do:

• Reinforce that recovery is a process, not a failure. Your athlete’s identity is not tied to being uninjured.

• Celebrate small victories in rehab: mobility gained, pain reduced, consistency in therapy.

Don’t:

• Pressure them to return too quicklyinjuries don’t care about timelines.

• Treat their sidelining as “lost time”  instead of viewing it as an opportunity to build strength.

For Coaches

Do:

• Stay involved with injured players, maintain communication, invite them to practices, and keep them in the culture.

• Build return-to-play plans that balance ambition with safety, gradually rebuilding trust in their body.

Don’t:

• Forget about their mental state; isolation during injury can drain confidence.

• Pushing for a “miracle return” without respecting the rehab timeline increases the risk of another setback.