Can you return to Netball?
Allowing yourself enough time to recover from an injury is an important part of achieving your maximum performance over your playing life.
When can you return to play?
You should not return to play netball after an injury until you:
- Can pass the simple fitness test below
- Have gained strength and movement in the injured area
- Have completed one full training session with no problems.
A simple fitness test
For a lower limb injury (low back, hip, knee, ankle, foot), you must be able to do all of these confidently, and without pain:
- Run the full length of the court four times
- Run, jump and land on two feet 10 times
- Hop on the injured leg 10 times
- Run shuttles two times, eg run and turn quickly at four cones spread in a line, two metres apart.
If you’ve had an upper limb injury (eg, neck, shoulder, elbow, hand, finger), you need to be able to do all of these confidently, and without pain:
- Chest passes in pairs 10 times
- Over head passes in pair 10 times
- Passing off each hand (if appropriate) 10 times each side
- Run and receive the ball on the run and pass back 10 times.
Your coach may have their own routine to test injured players. The main point of testing is to be sure you’re well enough to return to the pace of the game.
Remember: you’re much more likely to re-injure yourself if you’ve gone back to netball too early. If you return too soon, you may find yourself ‘out’ for another six to eight weeks, rather than the one extra week of rehabilitation you initially needed.
Taking things further – seeing the physio
If you need to see a physiotherapist simply call and make an appointment. You don’t need a referral from your GP.
If the injury was caused by an accident, eg colliding with a player which injured your back, or landing on another player’s foot and rolling your ankle, the injury can be treated under ACC. Most (although not all) physiotherapy clinics are now on the EPN (Endorsed Provider Network), which means the treatment is free for all ACC injures. All you need to do is check that your local clinic is on the EPN. You can so this by calling the clinic and asking if treatment is free for ACC injuries, or do an Internet search for ’ACC endorsed Physiotherapy Providers’. If your local clinic isn’t an EPN provider you can still see them, but you’ll have to pay a small surcharge.
If the accident is more serious, your physiotherapist may refer you for an X-ray. You’ll have to pay for this. And at this point the physiotherapist may refer you to a doctor.
A word to coaches
It can be difficult to know whether or not your player is ready to return to netball after an injury. The player or even their parent may tell you they are fine to play. However, you need to be sure the player is well enough to return to the court safely and is confident enough to contribute fully to the game.
If, after the fitness test, you’re still unsure the player is ready to return to sport, or if they are not getting better after a week, get them to see a Physiotherapist to help them get on track quickly.
Want to know more?
Some of this information is available in the free ‘Are you ready for Netball’ coaching manual available from your local Netball Centre.
The same information is available to players in the ‘Are you ready for Netball’ orange player wallet cards, also free and available from local Netball centres.
For other questions please contact NetballSmart Co-ordinator Megan Crockett: meganc@netballnz.co.nz
