Dealing With an Injury During Training Camp
Training camp is the time when you expect to finally reap the rewards of your off-season work. You’re excited for the opportunity to show the coaches and your teammates how much you’ve improved as an o-lineman. However, an injury that forces you to take a few days off can quickly take the wind out of your sails. Here are some tips for dealing with such injuries.

Be Proactive in Your Healing Process
Go to the training room to get treatment, but don’t stop there. Find out what you can do in addition to the treatment in order to recover more quickly. Diet, sleep, and myofascial release are critical to this process, so don’t get depressed and neglect these important details. Use this time for preventive maintenance of the rest of your body, too.

Get Deep into the Playbook
The injury is going to cause you to miss valuable live reps, so you’re going to have to find other ways to get better while you heal. A huge part of this is going to be mental. Gain an understanding of each play from each player’s perspective so you will be in position to make an impression when the opportunity presents itself. Understand the big picture. Get in mental reps and practice visualization, so your mind will be better prepared for the “high CNS environment ” of live reps when you return.

Stay Close to Your O-line Skill 
Continue your o-line skill acquisition. For the example, if you have a lower-body injury, keep practicing your striking and use of torque. If you have an upper-body injury, practice the Drive-Catch Method™. Be in the weight room keeping your important muscle groups strong. This is also preventive maintenance for future injuries.

Don’t Worry About What You Can’t Control
Easy enough. With Tips 1 through 3, you’ll have more than enough to fill your days without raising your cortisol levels. When you’re forced to take time off, use this time to reflect, pray, and be thankful. Stay diligent and you will be back without missing a beat. Injuries are part of o-line play, but if you have a can-do attitude, you’ll be quickly back in top form reaping what you sow.