Introduction
People who are engaged in various sports, especially those of a young age, have the potential to improve their physical and mental health. Nevertheless, ignorance of rules and policies may lead to negative consequences, such as athlete burnout. It is a state of a person, which reveals through an organism’s malfunctioning in terms of mental and physical disorders. Youth is a social category with a higher risk of sports burnout as their well-being develops. The inappropriate undertaking of sports activities and non-compliance with specific rules connected with health safety lead to different negative outcomes of burnout.
Definition of Youth Sports Burnout
Athletic activity should be promoted among youth as it fosters development and well-being. Due to sports, young people benefit from improved life quality, family relations, and involvement in the social environment and community (Pedersen & Thibault, 2019a). Advantages presented by positive emotions and athletic accomplishments are guaranteed (Wilczyńska et al., 2022).
Nevertheless, excessive and undue engagement in any sport causes negative effects on young people. This problem is an actual matter for pediatricians, other physical health specialists, and psychologists. Youth sports burnout is revealed in multiple ways: emotional disruption, fatigue, psychological breakdowns, and constant stress (Wilczyńska et al., 2022).
All of the mentioned complications are caused by sports failures, overly long training, and financial issues connected with investments, leading to decreased satisfaction levels and health problems (Wilczyńska et al., 2022). When young people spend much time gaining athletic goals and eventually underperform, their expectations are not satisfied, and decreased motivation results in exhaustion and inefficacy (Wilczyńska et al., 2022). Consequently, contact with doctors should be kept to avoid youth sports burnout and find practical solutions to avoid negative outcomes.
Avoiding Youth Sports Burnout
Children and young persons engaged as athletes strive to become successful and maintain their well-being. For this reason, the ways of sports burnout avoidance should be considered. Among various methods, medical professionals offer online and offline approaches (Wilczyńska et al., 2022). They include multiple essential interventions based on physical and psychological treatment. One of the best interventions that helps to avoid youth sports burnout is cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based intervention (Wilczyńska et al., 2022). Their main aim is to benefit health through communication with specialists and practicing specific medical procedures.
Ideas on Sport Specialization
Different sports can be specialized, requiring engaged children to train hard and continuously and participate in exhausting and dangerous competition. Athletic specialization means a single type of activity lacking diversity. However, it fosters academic scores, life success, and critical thinking competence (Pedersen & Thibault, 2019b).
It is dangerous for youth because they undergo active physical and psychological development, which may be deviated by intensive exercise. Specialized sports groups’ coaches should thoroughly observe the activity of young athletes and report any issues to medical specialists (Iona et al., 2022). Eventually, the risks of specialized sports can be reduced by correctly chosen approaches, and the youth can benefit from safe and vital training.
Reflection on Youth Sports Experience
I do not have any athlete burnout experience, although I witnessed such a situation with my friend. She had been swimming for many years and had devoted much of her young life to this sport. Her coach was too demanding, so her successful outcomes started decreasing due to over-intensive training. When she lost several competitions, she quit swimming, resulting in self-sabotage and constant depression. Her family and the psychologist are helping her leave a negative mental state, and the first successful results have already been gained.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the consequences of sports burnout for youth can be critical. Ignorance of rules and inappropriate undertaking of athletic activities lead to physical and psychological health conditions. Nevertheless, burnout can be avoided by following safety rules and engaging in a special methodology, which helps eliminate the consequences of sports burnout.
Such approaches are offered online and offline, revealing various outlooks for fast and effective recovery. Athletic specialization is an example of an activity where youth can gain success and, on the contrary, lose a healthy state of mind and body. Thorough observation and intervention in sports are necessary to prevent adverse outcomes.
References
Iona, T., Raimo, S., Coco, D., Tortella, P., Masala, D., Ammendolia, A., Mannocci, A., & La Torre, G. (2022). Specialization and injury risk in different youth sports: A bio-emotional social approach. Frontiers Psychology, 13. Web.
Pedersen, P.M. & Thibault, L. (2019a). Community and Youth Sport. Contemporary sport management (6th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Pedersen, P.M. & Thibault, L. (2019b). Interscholastic Athletics. Contemporary sport management (6th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Wilczyńska, D., Qi, W., Jaenes, J. C., Alarcón, D., Arenilla, M. J., & Lipowski, M. (2022). Burnout and mental interventions among youth athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17), 10662. Web.