Introduction

Athletes of all ages experience a variety of stressors to perform at the top of their sport. Many sports have important championships, playoffs, or tournaments at the end of the season. With pressure to perform well in these critical events, stress levels can increase and lead to a condition known as burnout. Burnout in athletes is a broadly defined term that refers to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress from sports participation². The condition can present serious implications for athletes. As a practitioner, coach, or parent, having a foundational understanding of burnout can positively impact an athlete's well-being.

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Identifying and Understanding Athlete Burnout

Clinical burnout was first identified by researchers as a psychological condition in the 1970s and later identified in athletes in the 1980s in relation to both mental and physical stressors. Since then the topic has continued to gain attention - specifically in regards to sport science interventions. It is important to note that everyday athlete stress is normal and does not necessarily lead to burnout⁵. However, early interventions in stress reduction can help reduce the prevalence of burnout on teams and for specific athletes. Early recognition of burnout symptoms is important for reducing the onset of the condition. Burnout symptoms may include, but are not limited to⁶:

• Fatigue
• Loss of interest in activities or motivation
• Sleep disturbances
• Irritability
• Decreased athletic performance
• Lack of concentration

Once an athlete demonstrates burnout symptoms, it is important to take appropriate steps and refer the athlete to a medical professional. If diagnosed, they may benefit from reducing training intensity, seeking support from coaches or sports psychologists, and finding ways to rekindle their passion for their sport. Taking breaks, practicing relaxation techniques, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle can also help reduce the onset of athlete burnout².

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Monitoring Burnout

Monitoring burnout in athletes involves both objective measures and subjective assessments. Here are some methods commonly used to monitor burnout in athletes:

• Physical Assessment: Regular physical assessments can help identify decreases in performance such as peak running velocity and power output, as well as changes in resting heart rate or heart rate variability. To learn more, check out our In-Season Monitoring & Testing blog.
• Training Load Monitoring: Tracking training volume, intensity, and frequency can help identify if athletes are being pushed too hard. Monitoring workload relative to an athlete's capacity can help reduce the risk of overtraining.
• Self-Reported Measures: Encouraging athletes to communicate openly about their feelings and experiences can provide valuable insights into their mental and emotional well-being. Regular check-ins with athletes can help identify early signs of burnout.
• Sleep Monitoring: Poor sleep quality or changes in sleep patterns can indicate increased stress. Monitoring athletes' sleep duration and quality can help flag potential issues.
• Behavioural Observations: Attention to changes in athletes' behaviour, such as increased irritability, decreased enthusiasm for training, or withdrawal from social interactions, can provide clues about their mental and emotional state.
• Support Network: Coaches, sports psychologists, and other support staff can be crucial in monitoring athletes' well-being. Creating a supportive environment where athletes feel comfortable discussing their concerns can help identify and address burnout early.

By combining these various monitoring methods, coaches and sports professionals can gain a comprehensive understanding of athletes' well-being and intervene promptly if signs of burnout are detected³. Utilising PlayerData, how can practitioners and coaches monitor athletes to identify potential flags that lead to burnout?

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Surveys

Utilising our surveys can be a valuable tool to reduce the prevalence of burnout among athletes by providing insights into their psychological well-being, identifying risk factors, and evaluating the effectiveness of intervention strategies⁴. Administering surveys at the beginning of the season or training cycle can establish a baseline understanding of athletes' mental and emotional states. Conducting periodic surveys throughout the season allows coaches and sports professionals to monitor athlete changes. Athletes may report high-stress levels from academic commitments, conflicts with teammates, or dissatisfaction with coaching practices.

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Monitoring Training Load

Coaches can easily monitor athletes' workload using GPS metrics via weekly and monthly reports. Focusing on absolute measures such as total distance, high-intensity running distance and sprint distance, coaches can view sudden increases and decreases in workload, which could lead to injury. This can be achieved by observing any unexpected spikes or dips in an athlete's training volume and intensity. Training sessions can then be adjusted for individual players so that there is an optimal balance between training and recovery.

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Conclusion

Burnout possesses serious implications for any one athlete who may experience it. By having a better understanding of the phenomena, appropriate interventions can be taken by practitioners to ensure an athlete's well-being.

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References

1. Smith, R.E., 1986. Toward a cognitive-affective model of athletic burnout. Journal of sport and exercise psychology, 8(1), pp.36-50.
   
2. Gustafsson, H., Madigan, D.J. and Lundkvist, E., 2018. Burnout in athletes. Handbuch stressregulation und sport, pp.489-504.
   
3. McGuigan, H.E., Hassmen, P., Rosic, N. and Stevens, C.J., 2021. Monitoring of training in high-performance athletes: what do practitioners do. J Sport Exerc Sci, 5(2), pp.121-129.
   
4. Groenewal, P.H., Putrino, D. and Norman, M.R., 2021. Burnout and motivation in sport. Psychiatric Clinics, 44(3), pp.359-372.
   
5. Raedeke, T.D., 1997. A sport commitment perspective. Journal of sport & exercise psychology, 19, pp.396-417.
6. Joel S. Brenner, Andrew Watson, COUNCIL ON SPORTS MEDICINE AND FITNESS; Overuse Injuries, Overtraining, and Burnout in Young Athletes. Pediatrics February 2024; 153 (2): e2023065129. 10.1542/peds.2023-065129
   
7. Wilczyńska D, Qi W, Jaenes JC, Alarcón D, Arenilla MJ, Lipowski M. Burnout and Mental Interventions among Youth Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Studies. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 26;19(17):10662. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191710662. PMID: 36078376; PMCID: PMC9517900.