Return to Sport

We have been roughly following the Melbourne ACL Guide and today we reviewed the Return to Sport protocols.

It is a combination of physical tests and questions to determine whether I am ready to start playing sports again. We checked off the final boxes and questions, and I felt a bit of resistance. Am I really ready?

We talked through the psychological side of things and I am really grateful for Matts understanding here. It often feels like I am whining and repeating myself when I talk about the mental side of things. But Matt is always patient, listens carefully, and provides the right support.

We decided it’s time to push ahead and leave this protocol behind. I am not getting back to any high level sports and I will take it slow at first, but this is the time to start taking the training wheels off.

It feels exciting and a bit surreal to know ready to return to everything – even if I am not getting back on the football pitch.

For the rest of todays session, we worked on single-leg Nordics and added a lateral box jump variation. I’d jump down, then immediately spring to the side – a good test of co-ordination and trust.

Outside, we got into a diamond sidestep drill, working on quick lateral movement with and without the ball. It felt surprisingly natural, even when progressing to a slalom cone drill with the ball.

This session felt like a good test, and Matt is happy that my knee’s strength and control are exactly where they need to be.

Wrapping things up, I had to take a moment to thank Matt. He’s been a constant through every high and low of this process, guiding me through setbacks and celebrating the wins. I’m heading back to Spain and it’s strange to close this chapter with him, but I’m happy we got to this stage together and it feels like a good place to sign off for now.

Sport, here I come – I don’t know quite what that means yet without football, but I am excited to find out.