To Play or Not to Play – Hard Decisions After Sports Injuries

It was pitch-black outside as I limped into the ER. You're fine, you're fine, I kept telling myself – and trying to believe it.

An eerie silence hung over the place as I waited for a doctor to show up. It felt like I was the only person there. I kept staring at the clock and wishing I hadn't: 2:00 in the morning. 

Finally, the doctor walked in. With an inscrutable expression, he sat down, adjusted his glasses, and said, “Nathan, I'm sorry …”

Now What?

What started as just another practice at my Muay Thai kickboxing gym ended with a 12–hour visit to the ER, one emergency surgery, one intense phone call to my parents, and a hefty medical bill.

I was discouraged, angry, and confused. Having to tell my coaches what happened and that I couldn't compete in my first scrimmage tournament, one I’d been training for for months, was gut-wrenching. To not be able to do any physical activity more intense than walking for weeks drove me crazy. I was so discouraged I almost threw away all my gear. 

From start to finish, the experience sucked. If there was a silver lining, I wasn't seeing it. 

I was left with so many questions: Now what? Do I go back to Muay Thai? At what level? Should I take up something safer? Where was Jesus in all this?

If you've ever been injured doing the sport you love, I'm truly sorry. And if you’re a student-athlete who has been injured, I can imagine the extra layers of turmoil you may be experiencing. When sports take up such a big part of our lives, injuries can make us question our identity. And as a college student, you’re probably already trying to figure out who you are and who you want to become.  

Instead of giving you my opinion on whether you should go back to training, I’ll share some reflections on the blessings and challenges I’ve encountered as a follower of Christ who plays sports. I’ll also offer some guiding questions for you to think through and process with others.

The Blessings of Sports

In the aftermath of injury, it might be hard to remember why exactly you started playing your sport in the first place. Here are some reasons and blessings for doing it again:

Community

When I go to the gym, I'm not just going there for the exercise or just to get out of the house. I'm going there to see my friends. To hear my coach’s terrible dad jokes. To tease each other about sweating during warm-ups. 

Playing together bonds people. It's allowed me to build relationships with so many awesome people I would have never met otherwise. It also affords me a chance to have spiritual conversations with friends.

Character

No matter how much you enjoy your sport, there are things you probably don't like. For me, it's hell hops (yes, they're even more terrible than they sound). Not quitting builds strength and perseverance. Perseverance, as James reminds us, is crucial to our spiritual growth (James 1:2-4)

Reset

Life can be hard. Some of us have a habit of hashing and rehashing past struggles and hard moments in our minds. The ability to go to the gym, to focus on something else for an hour or two can be such a relief. I know for me, it helps to reset and gain proper perspective on things. It reminds me that life is more than my problems.

The Challenges of Sports

Identity

When you think of yourself, what's the first attribute you think of? If it's a power forward or shortstop, there's a problem. No sport, no matter how fun or fulfilling, is enough to satisfy all your needs as a human being. Ultimately, we have to find our identity in Christ. 

Commitment

Any athlete knows that to succeed in sports, you gotta practice. You gotta put in the reps till the movements of your sport become instinct. That is extremely time intensive and often requires sacrifices. There's a certain level of sacrifice that is healthy. And then there's obsession. When all the other areas of your life – faith, family, friendships – are sacrificed on the altar of sports, that’s not okay. It’s also not how human beings are meant to live or thrive. 

If you’re struggling with your identity as an athlete, or if you feel like your sport is taking over your life in unhealthy ways, I recommend processing these questions with Jesus, your InterVarsity staff, or a trusted friend:

• How often do you think of your sport?
• When was the last time you took a day off? 
• What have you sacrificed for your sport? 
• If you had to give up your sport, how devastated would you be? 
• What would your life be without it? 
• How does your faith fit into your sport? 
• Are you seeking Christ’s kingdom first or your own accomplishments?

One last important note: It’s very tempting to make assumptions about circumstances and God's will. Like if you got hurt playing a sport, God obviously doesn't want you doing that anymore. 

But we need to be very careful about this. We live in a fallen world where sin and brokenness twist and mar the beauty of God's creation as he intended it. It's better not to make any sweeping conclusions about God's will or plan for our circumstances without spending intentional time in prayer and patiently waiting for his guidance.

And if you didn’t already know, InterVarsity’s Athletes ministry exists for people like you. We want to invite you into a community where you can bring your full self and find your identity in Jesus alongside other student-athletes. Learn more about us here!