1. The Puzzle of Burnout: A Psychological Perspective Siobhain McArdle Dublin City University Centre for Sport Science and Health

2. Defined Psychological, emotional & physical withdrawal from a formerly pursued and enjoyable sport as a result of excessive stress experienced over time (Smith, 1986)

3. Burnout: Motivation gone out of kilter or a disaster waiting to happen???

4. Adapted from R.E. Smith, 1986, “Cognitive-affective mode of stress & burnout”, Journal of Sport Psychology, 8(1), 40. Personality and Motivational Factors Situation Appraisal Physiologic Response Coping & Task Behaviors High or conflicting demands Insufficient recovery Low social support Tension & Anger Anxiety & Depression Insomnia Fatigue Susceptibility to Illness Perceived lack of control Perceived lack of meaning & accomplishment Perceptions of increased overload Decreased Performance Interpersonal Difficulties Withdrawal from Activity

5. Structure & Organization of the training environment Structure & Organization of Sport programs Loss of control Burnout

6. CAUSES Severe practice conditions Severe practice conditions Lack of recovery Lack of recovery Boredom Boredom Frustration with trying to satisfy everybody Frustration with trying to satisfy everybody Lack of enjoyment Lack of enjoyment Difficulty balancing rugby with outside demands Difficulty balancing rugby with outside demands Constant injury Constant injury Playing for additional teams Playing for additional teams Inability to say no to coaches Inability to say no to coachesSYMPTOMS Loss of interest Extreme physical & emotional exhaustion Lack of caring Anger Tension Perceived Overload What the research says ….. Athletes (Silva, 1990) & Rugby Players (Marshall, 2003)

7. Treatment and Prevention

8. Person ENVIRONMENT

9. Treatment & Prevention: Individual Level Player Self-Monitoring Player must first recognize he is suffering from overtraining and communicate his concerns to the coach Player must first recognize he is suffering from overtraining and communicate his concerns to the coach Educate the player Educate the player

10. Treatment & Prevention: Individual Level What the player should be aware of: Increase in perceived effort in training Physical & mental exhaustion Mood changes – highs & lows Concentration problems Loss of desire to play/lack of caring Sleep disturbance

11. Treatment & Prevention: Individual Level Recovery Medical (rehabilitation) Psychological (regeneration) Physical (restoration)

12. Treatment & Prevention: Environment Coach Awareness Fatigue Fatigue Skill execution & decision making Fatigue (is expressed by the quality of both) Performance variation

13. Coaching Behaviour Communication Communication Emphasis on development of the player vs. winning Emphasis on development of the player vs. winning Work with players to set individual short term & long-term goals Positive instruction and feedback directed toward goals Treatment & Prevention: Environment

14. Role clarity, role importance Each player should understand how his role effects his team mate Treatment & Prevention: Environment

15. Increase perceptions of autonomy Education Education Athletes have access to the knowledge needed to make informed choices Encourage good communication Encourage good communication Encourage feedback from the players as a group Encourage feedback from the players as a group

16. Questions????? Athlete Centred Approach Person first Person first Athlete Second Athlete Second