By Robert C. Eklund, J.D. Defreese — 2017
Athlete burnout is a cognitive-affective syndrome characterized by perceptions of emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced accomplishment, and devaluation of sport.
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CLEAR ALL
It once seemed impossible that anyone could go faster in the butterfly. By the time it happened, the most decorated Olympian had a growing family and no problem letting go of records.
And it can affect anyone who specializes in one activity—even kids on sports teams.
Burnout is hard to define. For this article, I’m referring to the point in time where it’s a good for an athlete to take a break from conventional training; the specific time in a career or training phase where they need some time away.
Sport is a place for girls to learn social interaction, hard work, the triumphs of success and coping skills when faced with failure. However, when recreational athletics turn to intense competitive sports, burnout is too often the result.
Former professional athletes describe the unique experience.
Recent tragedies reveal the silent stigma in sports.
The unspoken truths of physically and emotionally injured athletes.
Many changes are taking place in our culture that influence the mental and emotional well-being of today’s student-athletes. The pressure associated with student-athletes’ daily routine can create intense emotional responses.
It is a common perception that athletes, by virtue of their athletic endeavors, are somehow immune to depression and other mood disorders. Though there is not enough research yet to definitively refute this belief, it is very likely that this is not true.
To stay healthy and fit, older people have traditionally been advised to take up gentle activities, such as walking and tai chi. But it’s time we added competitive sports to the mix.