School. Practice. Homework.
School. Practice. Homework.
For many youth athletes, that is their schedule for the majority of the week, all year round. While it sounds monotonous — and busy — it’s the reality for many athletes. As the competition in youth athletes increases, some teams are opting to practice more often, and for longer periods of time. In some leagues, seasonal sports have become year-round with practices beginning months before the competition schedule starts.
While practicing more often can lead to sharpened skills and improved team play, it does come with risks.
“From the psychological stand point, we see burn out,” sports psychologist Dr. Justin Anderson said.
According to the NCAA.org, burnout can include the “absence of motivation as well as complete mental and physical exhaustion.”
Kids can get bored from having too much practice, which can lead to a lack of desire to keep playing. Having to perform at a high athletic level for an extended period of time can cause stress in athletes, and when you add in school and social activities, it can lead to exhaustion.
To avoid burnout in young athletes, coaches need to find a balance between improving athletic skills and maintaining psychological soundness.
Incorporating these tips can help:
Strike a Balance
Coaches need to determine what amount of practice is appropriate for the age and skill level of their team.
“We recommend having balance and being able to recover,” said Anderson, the found of Premier Sport Psychology.
The NCAA states burnout can occur when athletes endure too much practice with too little time to recover. Overtraining without a break can cause athletes to lose motivation and can prevent them for improving their skills. Instead, kids who start to burnout are at risk of plateauing, or even quitting the sport.
Kids need time between practices and training sessions to process what they’ve learned, and time to recover both mentally and physically.
“For a while people thought that more practice was better,” Anderson said.
But now, some coaches are looking at ways to make practice more efficient and effective, and cut down on the number of practices and the length. It’s becoming quality over quantity, if you will.
Have Fun
While some kids join sports teams to enhance their skills and really learn more about the game, a lot of the kids are playing just to have fun and to socialize with their peers. While performing well on the field is important, coaches also need to make sure the kids are enjoying themselves as they are training.
“(Kids need to) have fun,” Anderson said. “Athletes who have more fun will perform better. Structure is needed, but it’s not the only thing.”
Making practices fun and not always following the same format can help kids feel more engaged during their training sessions.
Take a Break
For some kids, the only cure for burnout is to take time away from the sport. Just like adults need a break from work, kids might need to take time off from their sport to relax, spend time with friends, or even explore other sports and activities.
Watch for Signs
In addition to restructuring their practice and training schedules, coaches also need to pay attention to the signs of burnout to quickly identify players who might be suffering.
According to the NCAA, some of the symptoms coaches should watch for include:
- Changes in emotions (moodiness, irritability)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Decrease in strength and coordination
- Loss of appetite
- Frequent illnesses
If athletes are displaying signs of burnout, the NCAA recommends the first course of action should be rest.
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