When to let injured players return?

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Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
My latest dilemma is when to let injured players return to practice/games.

First thing's first: I'm not pressuring anybody to return. In fact, it's the other way around. I'm getting pressure from the players to return, and I want to be sure I'm doing the right thing.

Obviously the type of injury matters. One girl twisted her ankle, and with something like that, as soon as she can go she can come back. I'm not overly concerned (she tried to jog in practice yesterday and couldn't, so she didn't participate in any running). One of our girls was out with a concussion, and she couldn't play until she was cleared by a doctor. In Illinois, any player with a concussion needs to be cleared by a doctor before returning, so that one was totally out of my hands.

But what about this one?

Three weeks ago, one of my players broke her finger. The doctor initially told her six weeks, and she's been bugging me to play. I haven't let her, but I just got a message from her that this weekend she's going to try playing catch with her dad. So what happens if that goes fine and her dad says she can return? Do I let her? Does that parental permission make it OK? For what it's worth, this player is not a superstar. I want her back so she can play because she misses it, but I'm not rushing her back so we can win games.

Any thoughts on this? As a parent, how would you feel in this situation if you decided your child was ready but the coach wasn't sure? Should I stick to that initial six-week diagnosis (should add that originally they said she'd need surgery, then decided she didn't, so maybe that six weeks isn't really six weeks?)?

I want her to get a chance to get in a few games before the season is over, but I'm just not sure about this one.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Tell her that you and the team miss her and look forward to her coming back. But you will need a note from the doc saying she is good to go. I set this policy from day one with my players. Never had any push back.
 
May 13, 2012
599
18
Have to agree with rise. Sounds good when Dad "she's good to go, I played with broke x and this is only her finger". You play her something happens and something goes wrong. Finger in way worse shape Dr. says arthritis will set in by age 24 blah blah. Memory can become short and parents don't recall releasing her so it's all on you. I want to think parents wouldn't do this but you never know. Written release from Dr. puts it on them not you.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Broke my hand many moons ago and the doctor said I had to wear the cast for 6 weeks. After 3 the cast was hurting me so bad it had to be removed. The doctor told me the bone would be completely fused back together after only 3 weeks, but it would still be very soft at the break point and I needed to be extremely careful or it would come back apart. I agree a doctors note should probably be required to return.

We have all done it, try to come back too soon and only end up extending the injury even longer. She may be just fine, but then again if she injures it again she will only extend the total time she is out even longer.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD figure was broke by a pitch. Doc said is was going to hurt like **** but she could do what she wanted.

(It was her off hand, probly would have needed to sit if primary hand)
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Have to agree with rise. Sounds good when Dad "she's good to go, I played with broke x and this is only her finger". You play her something happens and something goes wrong. Finger in way worse shape Dr. says arthritis will set in by age 24 blah blah. Memory can become short and parents don't recall releasing her so it's all on you. I want to think parents wouldn't do this but you never know. Written release from Dr. puts it on them not you.

Nothing wrong with asking for a doctor's note, but if parents send their kid into the dugout geared up and ready to play without any restriction, it's STILL on them.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
My rule is always if she is not playing because the doctor said she can't then she can't play until the doctor say she can....super simple that way there are no questions.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
You think we are going to tell you what her doctor said?

Knowing everything would be great but very seldom happens.

(Picking DD up from MS tryouts, coach comes with her. Never good. School nurse went to the principal saying she could not play SB. Coach said doctor needed to write a different note if she wanted to play. :))
 
Last edited:
Apr 16, 2010
924
43
Alabama
At our school the training staff has the final say. If they have referred you for care you must have a doctors note to return. DD had a banged up knee that cost her a few weeks at the beginning of our season. Once the MRI showed no damage our trainer worked with her physical therapist to perform therapy on days she didn't have an appointment. Once she got close the PT turned her over to our trainers to put her back in action for a week before releasing her from therapy.

We have a sports medicine program (I wish they had this when I was there) and the teacher is over our training staff. We have student trainers at every sporting event and there are two girls that travel with the softball team. The cool part of the program is if they want to pursue it they can get their EMT certifications during their senior year so we actually have an EMT that travels with the team. It is nice to know we have instant first aid available just in case. They also do a great job with icing to make sure our players are icing their arms/shoulders as needed.
 
May 13, 2012
599
18
Nothing wrong with asking for a doctor's note, but if parents send their kid into the dugout geared up and ready to play without any restriction, it's STILL on them.

I agree with your thought but don't want to be in a court room lawsuit and my only back up is they dressed her out said it's ok. They said " xyz" can or could be iffy. I have went by parents word in TB since I knew parents well. School ball no way.
 

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