Sports burnout can bench young athletes. What to know | Exclusive

Youth athletes often engage in an intense sports regimen, with some dedicating two practices a week and one game, while others may be fully immersed in the sport. While this constant involvement can drive some, it can also lead to burnout and overtraining, which could prematurely end their sports career. Burnout and overtraining share similar symptoms like fatigue, mood changes, and decreased performance, making it difficult to differentiate between the two.

However, overtraining is more common among elite young athletes. According to a study, overtraining occurred in 48% of individual athletes and 30% of athletes in team sports between the ages of 16 and 20, while burnout only affected 11% of individual athletes and 5% of team athletes. Experts emphasize the importance of recognizing the signs of overtraining.

Overtrained athletes continue participating in sports, showing reduced performance and persistent motivation to improve. In contrast, burnout is marked by a loss of motivation and a decline in self-esteem, often linked to a child's overall sense of well-being which encompasses social life, academic performance, and physical self-esteem.

Global self-esteem can be particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in sports performance, causing anxiety and stress in young athletes. Identifying burnout can be challenging, as a child's high level of involvement in sports does not always directly correlate with burnout. Factors such as parental or coach pressure can also contribute to burnout, affecting a child's self-esteem and leading to a desire to quit sports.

Coaches and parents should provide unconditional love, support, and encouragement, regardless of a child's performance, to maintain their self-esteem and prevent burnout. To address burnout, experts recommend examining the child's schedule and lifestyle habits, reducing their involvement in organized sports, and addressing other factors like diet, sleep, social life, academic pressure, and more.