Hurt my foot when landing - should I train with my team on Wednesday?

Ian MarshCoach, England

Hi Rachel, was this all the doctor said? Have you sprained your ankle?

It's very difficult to advise on something like this over the internet. As a general piece of advice if you have only grazed your foot then you're fine to play (maybe just wear a plaster (band aid) over the graze). If you've still got pain when you put weight on your foot I would avoid playing until it feels better - no point rushing back to play if it means you're out for more time in the long run. Maybe go for a test jog this evening to see how your foot feels?

Lee-annes NetballCoach, Australia

yeah, i agree with Alex.  Either call the doctor and see what he has to say, but you are the best guage as to how bad the injury is.  can you walk on it without pain?  can you run?  can you do quick change of directions?  jump and land without favouring the other foot?  if the ankle feels fine, but you know you are going to favour the other foot in fear of re-injury, then you should either, not play until you have restrengthened the ankle (stand on the injuryed foot with the other in the air, and then raise onto the ball of your foot and hold for 3 seconds, and dont be holding onto anything.  if you can do this easily, then close your eyes and repeat.  my physio gave me this basic exercise to restrengthen my ankles after an injury.  all netballers should be doing this on a daily basis.  while brushing your teeth is best).  if you try and play while still favouring your other foot, then you have a real chance of a much greater injury to your good ankle and knee (i tell you this from experience...i crawled off the courts once with an injured knee and both ankles done for this exact reason.)  if you ankles feels ok, but you want a little of extra support, then you can strap it.  this is not a long term solution, as it will weaken the ankle in the end.  but for a week or two til you get confident and strength in it back, then its an option.  but at the end of the day, im assuming you are only playing netball for fun, and not as a career, then a week off wont kill you.