Burnout and

1
Burnout and Overtraining
2
Overtraining

• Training Stress
• imposed to create competitive gains
• doesnt always work
• overtraining can lead to problems

3
Overtraining

• Overtraining -- despite intense training and high
  levels of motivation, the athlete cannot maintain
  previously-achieved levels of athletic
  performance.
• This is associated with
• STALENESS

4
Staleness

• Psychophysiological state associated with
  cardiovascular, endocrine, metabolic, perceptual,
  and psychological changes

5
Symptoms of overtraining / staleness

• Sleep impairment
• Chronic fatigue
• Appetite disturbance
• Elevated resting BP HR (failure of HR to return
  to normal for several hours post-workout)
• Increased sense of effort
• Affective disturbance (irritability, anxiety,
  depression)
• Feeling physically, emotionally/mentally exhausted

6
Staleness can lead to

• Decreased performance (in practice and
  competition)
• Increased risk of injury
• Burnout (next slide)

7
Staleness can lead to

• Burnout
• complex, psychophysiological reaction to the
  increasing intensity of athletic training
  superimposed on everyday stresses of life
• Three components
• Emotional/Physical exhaustion
• Depersonalization (a feeling of just going
  through the motions not caring)
• Decreased feelings of competence and control

8
Burnout Predisposing factors

• Small group exercise What factors are involved
  in someone burning-out in sports? Give
  specific examples to support your hypotheses

9
Burnout Predisposing factors

• long hours of practice which require a great deal
  of physical and mental energy
• not much off-season
• constant pressure to perform
• travel
• poor diet
• stress in other areas of life
• individuals coping style
• training from an early age

10
Burnout Predisposing factors

• Realizing that ones self-concept and identity is
  becoming overconstricted (e.g., Nick
  Bollettieri Tennis Academy)
• Perceived stress / fear of failure / loss of
  control
• Sport entrapment (too much invested to quit, but
  experiencing low satisfaction)

11
Treatment and prevention of burnout

• Strategies?? (ideas?)
• Promote the development of multidimensional
  identities among athletes (dont just help them
  adjust to their tunnel identity)
• Be careful with young athletes making exclusive
  commitments to sport

12
Treatment and prevention of burnout

• Take time off (maybe a few days off practice,
  maybe a season!)
• Learn more psychological coping skills (e.g.,
  goal-setting, arousal-control)
• Keep it FUN