A. The pressure to win has increased in recent years causing
additional and specialized training that often is year-round and often starts
early in life.
B. Defining overtraining, staleness, and burnout. Overtraining refers to a short cycle of
training at or near maximal capacity.
It is reasoned that as the body adapts to overload it will become
stronger. However, training is
individualistic and this is not always the case. For some, overtraining results in decreased performance. This negative training may lead to staleness
and eventually to burnout.
Staleness is the result of overtraining that manifests as
deteriorated academic readiness. This
typically occurs when performance is reduced by 5% or more for two weeks or
longer and fails to improve with reductions in the training. Mood disturbances (e.g., depression) often
accompany staleness.
Burnout is an exhaustive psychophysiological response that results
from excessive stress. This often
involves (a) withdrawal from activities, (b) loss of interest in the
activities, (c) impersonal and unfeeling emotions (depersonalization),
(d) low self-esteem, feelings of failure, low sense of personal accomplishment,
and depression, and exhaustion. There
are paper and pencil tests that measure burnout (e.g., Maslach Burnout
Inventory) and some tests that specifically measure sports burnout.
Overtraining, staleness, and burnout
affect upwards of ¾ athletes.
C. Three models of
burnout, but only one is primarily psychological.
Cognitive-affective
stress model. See text fig. 21.2. There are four stages (the situational
demand of stress, the cognitive appraisal or interpretation of the situation,
the physiological response [e.g., tension, irritability), and the behavioral
response [e.g., poor coping, withdrawal from activity].
Note that the Unidimensional Identity
Development and External Control Model by Coakley focuses on the role of the
social organization of highly competitive sports on young people, and how that
competition impedes normal identity development.
D. What leads to
burnout?
There are numerous factors that lead to
burnout. These include the following
categories. Note that in any individual
situation there may be one or more factors operating depending on the strength
of the factor.
Psychological
concerns—a broad category involving unfulfilled expectations, lack of
improvement, lack of enjoyment, and getting tired of the sport.
Starting highly
competitive sports at very young ages.
Training year round,
with shortened on no “off-season.”
Little time to
socialize with friends
Travel demands
Factors associated
with parent involvement (e.g., parental overinvolvement; sibling rivalries)
Factors associated
with coach or trainer involvement (e.g., relationship with coach and how coach
provides feedback)
E. The symptoms of
stress and burnout are varied and include psychological reactions (e.g.,
apathy, mood changes, anxiety) and physiological reactions (e.g., muscle pain,
sleep and eating disturbances, immune system deficiencies).
Mood disturbances are
a common symptom of heavy training workloads.
Recall that top
athletes have the “iceberg” mental health profile (they are high on
vigor). Overtrained athletes have an
“inverted iceberg” profile (low on vigor and high on negative mood states).
F. Avoiding
Burnout (from mindtools. Com).
If you feel that you are in danger of burning out, or are
not enjoying your sport, the following points can help you correct the
situation: