There are many factors that can contribute to an athlete feeling “burnt out” and losing their interest in their sport or activity. Surprisingly, many of these factors have little to do with the athlete themselves.

OVERTRAINING: The most common cause of burnout is very simple and basic- Not enough rest. When an athlete is physically over-worked, they do not let their body and more importantly their mind have a chance to recover. A successful athlete needs to know the importance of rest in their training regime. If the body and mind has a chance to recharge, motivation and energy to train remains high. It also keeps the athlete fresh and excited about their sport and goals. Rest isn’t optional, it is an integral part of a training program.

EXCESSIVE PRESSURE: There is no doubt that competition is good for an athlete. However, too much competitive pressure from the athlete, coaches or parents can drain the enjoyment out of a sport and lead to a burnout. Excessive pressure can make the sport or activity too serious and lead to a loss of perspective. Once the fun leaves the sport, desire and commitment are soon to follow.

LACK OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK: Burnout can often be fed from excessive negativity from the coach or parent. Excessive negative feedback can destroy an athlete’s self-confidence and enthusiasm for the sport or activity. On the other hand, there is never such a thing as too much positive reinforcement. When an athlete receives deserved and genuine praise, it will build their self-confidence and fuel their passion for the sport.

NOT ENOUGH CHALLENGES: When an athlete is in an environment where they are not being challenged, things become easy and predictable. Eventually this will lead to boredom or apathy, and then eventually to burnout or dropout. Athletes need to be continually placed in situations to step outside of their comfort zones to learn that those limiting beliefs are false. Challenges can be not only physical but also mental and emotional. With these regular challenges, athletes will continue to develop and improve. They will feel good about themselves and happy with their sport, two conditions that will always beat burnout.