On every team, a coach always fears that injuries can sneak up at any time. Even with the most elite training fluke injuries do happen that can leave players injured for some time. I felt that frustration as a coach this weekend when my star setter rolled her ankle during our second match of 7. The bug has been especially evident on our team as well. Scott pulled a muscle and hasn't been training 100% for weeks now; Bo and Soren both injured their arm; Matt rolled his ankle and hasn't been practicing for a few days; and i've had jumpers knee which hasn't kept me out of practice, but has been pretty painful.
With these injuries, there is much more pressure on the remaining players to perform in a situation where they feel less comfortable. With my girls team this weekend, after losing our setter, they were able to pull of 4 wins and 1 loss with only 5 players and adapting to an old style of volleyball with every setting and hitting. For our professional team, I don't think we will have to resort to going back to everyone setting, but dynamics do change. Even once injured players return it often takes them time to re-establish themselves since they have lost some training. However, If we can persevere and get through these injuries with all the players returning, it will make us a stronger and better team- not just for overcoming the injury but also to challenge our depth and to place guys in different roles. We have 3 matches this weekend in Sweden for the Nordic Championship. With a completely healthy team it would be a difficult weekend. With a team that is a little banged up, it just seems like the perfect opportunity to shine!
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