chapter
21
Burnout
and Overtraining
Session Outline
• Prevalence of Burnout and Overtraining
• Defining Periodized Training, Overtraining,
Staleness, and Burnout
• Frequency of Overtraining and Staleness
• Models of Burnout
• Factors Leading to Burnout
(continued)
Session Outline (continued)
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Symptoms of Overtraining and Burnout
Measuring Burnout
Burnout in Sport Professionals
Treating and Preventing Burnout
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.
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)
Overtraining
Overtraining
A short cycle of training during which athletes
expose themselves to excessive training
loads that are near maximum capacity
Overtraining
Keys
• One athlete’s overtraining might be another
athlete’s optimal training regimen.
• The process of overtraining can result in
positive adaptation and improved
performance (positive overtraining) or
maladaptation and decreased performance
(negative overtraining).
The Overtraining Process
Adapted from G. Kentta, 2001, "Toward a cognitive-affective model of athletic burnout," Journal of
Sport Psychology 9(1): 40.
Staleness
Staleness
The physiological state of overtraining in
which the athlete has difficulty maintaining
standard training regimens and can no longer
achieve previous performance results
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
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
Frequency of Overtraining
and Staleness
• 66% of Atlantic Coast Conference athletes
experienced some overtraining, 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 subelite runners reported staleness.
(continued)
Frequency of Overtraining
and Staleness (continued)
• 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 teamsport athletes (30%).
Models of Burnout
Cognitive–affective stress model
Negative-training stress response model
Unidimensional identity development
and external control model
Cognitive–Affective Stress Model
of Burnout (Smith, 1986)
Adapted, by permission, from R. Smith, 1986, "Toward a cognitive-affective model of athletic
burnout," Journal of Sport Psychology 8(1): 40.
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).
Unidimensional Identity Development
and External Control Model
(Coakley, 1992)
Stress is involved in burnout, but it is only a
symptom.
(continued)
Unidimensional Identity Development
and External Control Model
(Coakley, 1992) (continued)
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)
Unidimensional Identity Development
and External Control Model
(Coakley, 1992) (continued)
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.
Factors Leading
to Burnout
• Athletes are starting to train at younger
ages.
• Training in many sports is virtually yearround.
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
Strains in Junior Athletes
• Social–psychological strain: perfectionistic
players, parental or coach pressure
• Physically driven strain
Individual Differences
in Burnout Causes
Factors Related to Burnout in Athletes
Several specific factors are linked to burnout,
from conflicting demands to excessive
training loads.
(See table 21.1 on p. 496 of text.)
Signs of Overtraining
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Apathy
Lethargy
Weight loss
Mood changes
(See Recognizing Overtraining and Burnout on p.
500 of text.)
Signs of Burnout
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Low motivation
Lack of caring
Lowered affect
Anxiety
(See Recognizing Overtraining and Burnout on p.
500 of text.)
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.
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.
Measuring Burnout
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
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
Factors Related to Burnout
in Coaches
Coaches
• Pressure to win
• Administrator or parental interference or
indifference
• Disciplinary problems
• Multiple roles
• Extensive travel
• Intense personal involvement
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).
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.
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
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)
Treating and Preventing Burnout
(continued)
5. Keep a positive outlook.
6. Manage postcompetition emotions.
7. Stay in good physical condition.
Treating and Preventing Burnout
Key
It’s not how hard you train, it’s how you
recover.
Treating and Preventing Burnout
Overload source
Recovery strategy
Physical stressor
Nutrition and hydration
Eat more carbohydrate
Stay hydrated
Rest
No physical activity
Passive rest
Get sufficient sleep
(continued)
Treating and Preventing Burnout
(continued)
Overload source
Recovery strategy
Psychological or
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
Reducing Burnout
in Young Tennis Players
Advice for other players
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Play for your own reason.
Balance tennis and other things.
Try to make it fun.
Take time off and relax.
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.
Reducing Burnout
in Young Tennis Players
Advice for coaches
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Have two-way communication with players.
Cultivate personal involvement with players.
Utilize player input.
Understand players’ feelings.