Does this sound like your daughter?

She’s just getting back on her feet after an injury, but something’s holding her back. Her body is ready, but her mind is playing tricks – nervousness, hesitation, and fear of reinjury. If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Injuries are tough, but they’re not just a physical battle; they’re a mental and emotional one too.

As parents, your support can make all the difference in how your athlete bounces back; not just physically but mentally. Let’s break down how you can help her rebuild confidence and get back to competing without fear.

Injury Is Emotional, Not Just Physical

When your daughter gets injured, it’s natural to focus on the physical recovery – doctor visits, physical therapy, timelines. But don’t overlook the emotional toll. Your athlete might be feeling sadness, frustration, or even a loss of identity.

It’s important to validate these feelings. Instead of saying, “You’ll be fine,” try asking how she’s feeling. Encourage her to talk about her fears or frustrations. Processing emotions helps her move forward, rather than pushing those feelings down where they can bubble up later.

Support Without Absorbing Every Emotion

Your daughter needs a steady, supportive leader in you; not someone who rides every emotional high and low with her. Adopt a mantra like, “This is just a phase; it will pass.” This reminds both of you that injuries are temporary, even when they feel overwhelming.

At the same time, avoid rushing her recovery. Healing takes time, and your patience can set the tone for how she approaches her return to play.

Using the Downtime Wisely

Injury creates a unique opportunity: time. Instead of letting her sit around feeling stuck, help her see this as a chance to grow in new ways.

One powerful tool? Visualization.

Athletes who practice visualization can mentally rehearse their sport, keeping their skills sharp and reducing anxiety about returning. Here’s how to start:

• Pick Key Moments. Help her choose common scenarios from her sport, like a corner kick in soccer or sliding into home base in softball.

• Engage the Senses. Encourage her to imagine the sights, sounds, and feelings of those moments vividly.

• Revisit the Injury Moment. If she’s comfortable, have her visualize the play where she got hurt, this time with perfect execution and no injury. This helps rewire her brain to approach that movement without hesitation.

By taking just a few minutes each day to visualize, she can stay connected to her sport and rebuild her confidence.

Turning Injury into a Competitive Advantage

Every setback is an opportunity for growth, even though it might not feel that way at the moment. When your athlete is sidelined, it can be easy for her to dwell on what she’s missing: games, practices, and the physical joy of competing. However, this time can also become a turning point in her athletic journey if approached with the right mindset.

Encourage your daughter to reflect on what she can gain during her recovery. For example, she can use this time to see the game from a different angle. Watching practices or games from the sidelines gives her a broader perspective on strategy, teamwork, and how her role fits into the bigger picture. These insights can make her a smarter, more intentional player when she returns.

This downtime is also a great opportunity to sharpen skills that might not always get as much attention during the regular season. Is there a part of her game she’s always wanted to improve? Maybe she can study game footage, work on play recognition, or even develop better communication skills with teammates.

Remind her that some of the greatest athletes have stories of overcoming challenges – injuries, getting cut from teams, or failing to meet expectations. These obstacles didn’t define them; their response to those obstacles did. Her injury is part of her story now, but it can be the chapter where she builds resilience, character, and a deeper love for her sport.

Finally, encourage her to take on new roles with her team. If she can’t play, maybe she can help keep score, cheer on her teammates, or offer tips to younger players. Staying connected and involved not only helps her feel like she’s still contributing but also reinforces that she’s an important part of the team, even when she’s not on the field or court.

Building Her Support System

Recovery isn’t a solo journey. Surround your daughter with the right support team:

• Doctors and physical therapists for her physical recovery.
• Coaches and teammates to keep her engaged.
• Friends and mentors to lift her spirits.
• Mental performance coaches or programs like Elite Mental Game to strengthen her mindset.

The more support she has, the more confident and prepared she’ll feel when it’s time to return.

The Mental Game Is Prime Time

Injuries are the perfect time to focus on mental training. Without this work, athletes often spiral into comparisons, wishing they were the player they used to be or envying teammates who are still competing.

Teach her to reframe those thoughts. Instead of, “I’ll never get back to where I was,” help her think, “This is my chance to become a new, better version of myself.”

Mantras can help here too:

• “I am growing stronger every day.”
• “I trust my body and my journey.”
• “I focus on what I can control.”

These simple phrases can anchor her when negative thoughts creep in.

Returning to Play: Baby Steps Lead to Big Wins

Once she’s cleared to play, the key is patience – both hers and yours. Motivation might dip at first, but small wins will build momentum.

Help her set manageable goals, like:

• Participating in non-contact drills.
• Rebuilding stamina through light workouts.
• Focusing on being a great teammate, even if she’s not at full capacity yet.

And remind her: She’s not the same athlete she was before the injury. She’s a new version of herself, with new skills, perspectives, and strengths. Encourage her to embrace this fresh start rather than comparing herself to the past.

Injuries Are Temporary, But Growth Is Lasting

Injury recovery is a journey, but it doesn’t have to be a setback. With your support, your daughter can come out stronger – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Focus on these steps:

• Validate her emotions and give her space to process them.
• Encourage growth by using downtime to build mental and physical skills.
• Surround her with support from professionals, teammates, and mentors.
• Help her reframe negative thoughts with positive mantras and visualization.
• Celebrate small wins as she returns to play and embraces her new self.

If you want more tools to help your daughter strengthen her mental game during recovery, check out our free training for sports moms at trainhergame.com. With the right mindset and support, she can turn her injury into one of the most powerful chapters of her story.

Episode Highlights: 

[00:00:00] Introduction. Setting the stage for the episode, addressing sports parents and diving into the challenge of supporting girl athletes as they recover from injuries.

[00:00:26] Q&A Topic Overview. Today’s focus: how to support your daughter through injury – whether she’s sidelined or on the verge of reentering her sport – and help her regain confidence.

[00:01:00] Shoutout to an Athlete’s Recovery Journey. A story of an athlete who successfully returned post-injury using visualization and mindset strategies, proving how critical mental training is during recovery.

[00:02:24] Common Struggles for Athletes Returning from Injury. Explores why physically cleared athletes often struggle mentally – hesitation, fear, and comparisons to others or their past selves.

[00:03:00] The Emotional Side of Injury Recovery. The injury process isn’t just physical; it’s emotional. Bre discusses how parents can stay steady and support their athlete without absorbing all the ups and downs.

[00:04:00] Using Downtime to Build Mental Strength. Injury creates a unique opportunity for athletes to sharpen their mental game, including learning visualization techniques and mentally rehearsing key moments.

[00:05:10] Visualization as a Superpower. Specific examples of how visualization can help injured athletes stay connected to their sport and reduce anxiety about returning to play.

[00:06:00] Turning Injury Into an Advantage. How athletes can use their time off to gain a new perspective, improve skills, and strengthen their mindset. Stories of resilience from elite athletes are shared as inspiration.

[00:08:06] Building a Strong Support System. The importance of surrounding your athlete with a team of doctors, coaches, teammates, and mentors to provide encouragement and guidance.

[00:09:22] Mental Training During Recovery. Why this is the perfect time to focus on mental skills like mantras, reframing limiting beliefs, and preparing for a confident return.

[00:10:00] Returning to Play: A Fresh Start. Strategies for helping your daughter return to her sport without fear, including setting small goals, celebrating progress, and focusing on what’s in her control.

[00:11:00] Summary and Resources. Key takeaways and a reminder to check out the free training for sports moms at trainhergame.com to learn more about strengthening your athlete’s mental game.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms – How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter’s Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

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