What is athlete burnout in teens?
Athlete burnout is overwhelming physical and emotional exhaustion related to a sport. It often results from chronic overtraining and intense pressure from parents, coaches or the athletes themselves. Many teens seek validation through external factors and feel the need to be “the best.” This self-imposed perfectionism can stem from not feeling good enough and may lead to a loss of love for the game, feelings of inadequacy, increased anxiety and a lack of independence.
Intense training and constant expectations to perform can make athletes feel pressured to focus only on training and competition. Over time, this may also lead to a loss of identity outside of sports.
How can parents tell the difference between normal fatigue and burnout?
Normal fatigue and burnout can present really similarly; however burnout is a more intense version of fatigue. As a parent, notice if there is a difference in your teen’s motivation to do things they normally love to do. Recovery time is a big indicator of whether your teen is burnt out. Teens can usually overcome normal fatigue with a good night’s sleep or a break over a weekend. Burnout is not something that goes away after a weekend of rest. It would continue to affect the athlete after a week-long break or even during the off-season.
What are the warning signs of sports burnout in teenagers?
Burnout in teens can present in many different ways from physically to emotionally and cognitively. Some of the most common indicators are constant fatigue, performance anxiety or declining/lack of performance, more frequent injuries, loss of enjoyment in activities (not only the sport but everyday activities), and changes in behavior like sleep and appetite.
Can playing too many sports affect a teen’s mental health?
An overloaded sports schedule can contribute to stress, exhaustion and burnout. At the same time, specializing in one sport too early has been linked to overuse injuries, emotional exhaustion and feeling detached from the sport.
The goal is balance. Parents can help by limiting the number of competitive teams their teen participates in and protecting true off-season breaks. It’s also important to praise effort rather than results. Focus on resilience, teamwork and hustle—not just wins, statistics or playing time.
Why are teen athletes experiencing more burnout than previous generations?
Teens often experience more burnout because of specialization in a single sport. Younger athletes have been specializing in one sport earlier, causing them to have more overuse injuries and grow tired of their sport. Parents are striving for the “next best professional athlete” and view youth sports as “professional.” This leads to more pressure on a child, most likely causing them to lose interest and experience physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.
Should teens take breaks from sports during the summer?
Everyone needs a break every now and then. Allowing your teen to try new things or take a break from sports is not a bad thing. It not only allows your teen to reset physically, but mentally as well. It allows them to discover new hobbies and figure out who they are outside of their sport. A break doesn’t mean sleeping the day away though. Going for walks or bike rides, hanging out with friends, reading a book for pleasure or family vacations are great ways to take a break.
When should parents seek professional support for a burned-out teen athlete?
Before you notice the signs! Preventative measures are always best when it comes to mental health. If you feel like you’re noticing your teen expressing any symptoms of burnout, talk to them. See what’s going on. If needed, reach out to a mental health professional for more support.
Keira White is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC). She offers therapy sessions at the Serenium Therapy & Wellness Cranford location and virtually across all of New Jersey. She has a master’s in counseling and an education specialist degree in professional counseling with a certification in sport and exercise psychology from Seton Hall University. She also received her bachelors in athletic training from William Paterson University.
She has an extensive background in athletics and strives to help athletes, veterans, and like-minded, driven individuals overcome performance anxiety and perform at their best ability, whether that be on the field, in the classroom, or in life.
She values techniques such as visualization, relaxation, breathing exercises, and positive self-talk. These, and other modalities like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/Tapping), help her clients to overcome performance anxiety, set goals, build mental resilience, enhance self-confidence, and achieve work-life balance. She is passionate about helping clients enhance their performance and well-being through mental resilience.
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