Aberystwyth take on the Bristol Bomber 2’s

The 26th January 2013 saw Aberystwyth battle it out with Bristol Bombers 2nd team. Bristol Bombers were firing on all cylinders to win 16-0. Not the finest of starts to the year from Aberystwyth up against one of the toughest opponents in the league. They look to get back on track with a win over the University of Bristol 2nd team on the 30th January.

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The Broken and the Damned!

Lacrosse is a tough game and enduring a season without injury can be a challenge. As a contact sport the likelihood picking up an injury is quite high. It isn’t surprising to see some of the games greatest players set back by injury. Greg Gurenlian face off specialist for the Long Island Lizards had under gone knee surgery as a result of an injury before last summers’ season.

Others such as Chris Eck (Boston Cannons) and Rob Pannell (currently at Cornell) picked up injuries from the game and have to battle through the recovery to get to where they are today.

I myself had picked up a hamstring injury before my university season; there is nothing more frustrating than being injured and wanting to get back to training or playing. It seems to be the case at some point in your lacrosse filled life you will get injured. As a minority sport in the UK, opportunities to play matches are not in abundance you have your University and Semla/Nemla seasons running from late September to May (roughly). There is a narrow window to get matches under your belt as a new or inexperienced player. Any time out from the game is a major set back that no keen player would welcome.

I was eager to see how other people coped with their injuries before coming back to the game. I asked UK based players on Laxforums.co.uk what kinds of injuries they had sustained as a result of lacrosse and some guys have really taken a battering. Other than the odd dead limb some serious injuries have kept players out for months at a time.

LacrosseRob:  “Just recovered from fracturing a bone in the back of my hand, spilled a save back in front of the goal and had to dive out to check the guy on crease before he could pick it up, landed awkwardly with all of my weight on one hand. I didn’t even realise how bad it was for a couple of days until I got it x-rayed (I did a bar shift that night as well which probably didn’t help). The result being after the fourth game of the season: No lax for 3 months. Was in a splint for about 8 weeks, the usual therapy exercises and strengthening. Just building my fitness and strength back up again now gradually.”

Another player, a certain davidmcculloch81, seems to have been through it all suffering from:

“Dead leg – practice (2009; 2 weeks) – massage and rest

Fractured metacarpal – check at practice (2009; 6 weeks) – rest and progress x-rays

Fractured thumb – Bath Eights (2009; 6 weeks) – rest and progress x-rays

Broken collar bone & shoulder blade with dislocated shoulder – league game (2011; 8 months) – surgery to plate collar bone, rest and physio

Torn adductor (2012 to present; assume 6 weeks) – rest and physio

Since 2007 I have also suffered two collapsed lungs (same lung – 2 separate occasions). These weren’t sustained during lacrosse but kept me out for around three months at a time and have since had corrective surgery.

I have been playing competitive sport for 24 years (now very nearly 32). Up to the age of 26 I did not suffer any injuries that prevented me from playing.”

It seems the only way to combat broken bones and torn muscles is to take it easy. I am now sitting here with a broken leg from a skiing accident feeling a little more optimistic about going back to lacrosse. It’s going to be a while but I will make the best of my time out from the game. I will probably follow in the wise footsteps of the laxforums member mmm…beer that used physio, beer, swearing and playstation to help him pull through the hard times.

Remember if you get injured it isn’t game over. You just have time to plot your return!

**Update** Nicky Galasso (player formly of UNC) Syracuse suffered last year from injury. In his first year he racked up an impressive 56 points but his injury meant he had to sit majority of last year out. He moved to Syracuse to make some headlines and be closer to home and eagerly anticipated a strong 2013 season with them. However, he has recently broken his foot requiring surgery putting him out of the game for yet another year. Catch the full story here.