1. Burnout and Overtraining
CHAPTER 21
Burnout and Overtraining

2. Session Outline The Prevalence of Burnout and Overtraining
Defining Periodized Training, Overtraining, Staleness, and Burnout
Frequency of Overtraining and Staleness
Models of Burnout
Factors Leading to Athlete Burnout
(continued)

3. Session Outline Symptoms of Overtraining and Burnout Measuring Burnout
Burnout in Sport Professionals
Treating and Preventing Burnout

4. The Prevalence of Burnout and Overtraining
As the pressure to win increases, athletes and coaches spend more time training and feel more stress—which sometimes leads to overtraining and burnout.

5. Periodized Training Periodized Training
The deliberate strategy of exposing athletes to high-volume and high-intensity training loads that are followed by a lower training load (a rest or taper)

6. Overtraining Overtraining
A short cycle of training during which athletes expose themselves to excessive training loads that are near maximum capacity.

7. Overtraining
KEYS —
One athlete’s overtraining might be another athlete’s optimal training regime.
The process of overtraining can result in positive adaptation and improved performance (positive overtraining) or maladaption and decreased performance (negative over-training).

8. The Overtraining Process

9. Staleness
Staleness
The physiological state of overtraining in which the athlete has difficulty maintaining standard training regimes and can no longer achieve previous performance results

10. Burnout
Burnout
A psychophysiological response due to frequent but generally ineffective efforts to meet excessive demands, involving a psychological emotional, and sometimes physical withdrawal from an activity in response to excessive stress or dissatisfaction

11. Characteristics of Burnout
Exhaustion, both physical and emotional, in the form of lost concern, energy, interest, and trust
Depersonalization—acting impersonal and unfeeling—in large part due to mental and physical exhaustion
Feeling of low personal accomplishment, low self-esteem, failure, and depression—often visible in low job productivity or a decreased performance level

12. Frequency of Overtraining and Staleness
66% of ACC athletes experience some over-training, on average twice a year.
72% of the athletes reported some staleness during their sport season.
60% to 64% of runners experience some staleness once a year.
30% of sub-elite runners reported staleness.
(continued)

13. Frequency of Overtraining and Staleness
Of swimmers who reported staleness during their freshman year, 90% became stale in one or more subsequent seasons.
Swedish athletes training at sport high schools experienced staleness—both individual-sport athletes (48%) and team-sport athletes (30%).

14. Models of Burnout Cognitive-affective stress model
Negative-training stress response model
Unidimensional identity development and external control model

15. Cognitive-Affective Stress Model of Burnout (Smith, 1986)

16. Negative-Training Stress Response Model (Silva, 1990)
Focuses on physical training (but recognizes the importance of psychological factors).
Physical training stresses the athlete physically and psychologically and can have positive and negative effects.
Positive adaptation (normal overload) is desirable.
Negative adaptation is undesirable (leads to overtraining, staleness, and burnout).

17. Unidimensional Identity Development and External Control Model (Coakley, 1992)
Stress is involved in burnout, but it is only a symptom.
(continued)

18. Unidimensional Identity Development and External Control Model (Coakley, 1992)
The real causes of burnout (especially in young athletes) are these:
1. The structure of highly competitive sport does not allow young athletes to spend enough time with peers outside of sport. This causes young athletes to focus solely on identifying with athletic success, which can be unhealthy, especially when failure or injury occurs.
(continued)

19. Unidimensional Identity Development and External Control Model (Coakley, 1992)
The real causes of burnout (especially in young athletes) are these:
2. The social worlds of young athletes are organized in such a way that their control and decision making are inhibited.

20. Key Factors Leading to Athlete Burnout
Athletes are starting to train at younger ages.
Training in many sports is virtually year-round.

21. Causes of Burnout in Junior Tennis Players
Physical concerns—erratic play, injury, feeling tired
Logistical concerns—travel grind, time demands
Social or interpersonal concerns—negative parental influence, negative team atmosphere
Psychological concerns—inappropriate expectations, feeling a lack of improvement, coach and parental pressure

22. Strains in Junior Athletes
Social-psychological strain
Perfectionistic players, parental or coach pressure
Physically driven strain

23. Individual Differences in
Burnout Causes

24. Factors Related to Athlete Burnout
Several specific factors are linked to athlete burnout, from conflicting demands to excessive training loads
(See table 21.1 on p. 474 of text.)

25. Signs of Overtraining Apathy Lethargy Weight loss Mood changes
(See table 21.2 on p. 477 of text.)

26. Signs of Burnout Low motivation Lack of caring Lowered affect Anxiety
(See table 21.2 on p. 477 of text.)

27. Overtraining and Mood States
Athletes experience increased mood disturbance under especially heavy training workloads. The heavier the workload, the greater the mood disturbance.
Successful athletes exhibit high levels of vigor and low levels of negative mood states, an optimal combination.
Overtrained athletes show an inverted iceberg profile, with negative states pronounced.

28. Overtraining and Performance
Overtrained and stale athletes are at risk of developing mood disturbances, which can result in decreased performance levels and dropout. More is not always better.

29. Measuring Burnout The Maslach Burnout Inventory
The Maslach Burnout Inventory—a reliable instrument to measure burnout that has been adapted and modified for use in sport and exercise
Maslach Burnout Inventory subscales
Emotional exhaustion
Depersonalization
Personal accomplishments

30. Factors Related to Burnout in Trainers and Officials
Athletic trainers
Type A personality
Role conflict and ambiguity
Officials
Making bad calls
Role conflict and ambiguity

31. Factors Related to Burnout in Coaches
Pressure to win
Administrator-parent interference or indifference
Disciplinary problems
Multiple roles
Extensive travel
Intense personal involvement

32. Factors Related to Burnout in Coaches
Gender differences:
None have yet been established
Age and experience differences:
Younger coaches appear to have higher levels of burnout (partly because older coaches have already burned out).

33. Factors Related to Burnout in Coaches
Coaching style:
Coaches who are more caring and people-oriented appear to be more vulnerable to burnout.
Social support:
Greater social support is associated with lower burnout.

34. Factors Related to Burnout in Sport Professionals
Fitness instructors, administrators, and physical education teachers
Pressure from coaches or parents
Hard training
Competition over a long period of time

35. Treating and Preventing Burnout
1. Set short-term goals for competition and practice.
2. Communicate your feelings to others.
3. Take relaxation (time-out) breaks.
4. Learn self-regulation skills (e.g., relaxation, imagery, goal setting, self-talk).
(continued)

36. Treating and Preventing Burnout
5. Keep a positive outlook.
6. Manage postcompetition emotions.
7. Stay in good physical condition.

37. Treating and Preventing Burnout
KEY—
It’s Not How Hard You Train, It’s How You Recover.

38. Treating and Preventing Burnout
OVERLOAD SOURCE RECOVERY STRATEGY
Physical stressor
Nutrition and hydration
Eat more carbohydrates
Stay hydrated
Rest
No physical activity
Passive rest
Get sufficient sleep
(continued)

39. Treating and Preventing Burnout
OVERLOAD SOURCE RECOVERY STRATEGY
Psychological/ social stressor
Relaxation and emotional support
• Flotation tanks, massage sauna
• Time-out
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Visualization
Minimize nontraining stressors (e.g., limit work hours)
Thought management strategies
• Dissociation (e.g., watch movies)
• Negative thought replacement

40. in Young Tennis Players
Reducing Burnout
in Young Tennis Players
Advice for other players
Play for your own reason.
Balance tennis and other things.
Try to make it fun.
Take time off and relax.

41. in Young Tennis Players
Reducing Burnout
in Young Tennis Players
Advice for parents
Recognize what is an optimal amount of “pushing.”
Give support, show empathy, and reduce the importance of outcome.
Involve players in decision making.
Lessen involvement.

42. in Young Tennis Players
Reducing Burnout
in Young Tennis Players
Advice for coaches
Have two-way communication with players.
Cultivate personal involvement with players.
Utilize player input.
Understand players’ feelings.