Take a Break

Triad Athletes Take a Break Blog Student Athlete Burnout

Thanks to many resources like Women's Sports Foundation, National Athletic Trainer Association and the NCAA, there are resources you can find that showcase how student athletes can recognize the warning signs, and potentially reduce, or remove, "burnout" altogether.

Burnout is a response to chronic stress of continued demands in a sport or activity without the opportunity for physical and mental rest and recovery.  Burnout is a syndrome of continual training and sport attention stress, resulting in staleness, overtraining and eventually burnout. 

What has changed the most about sports, is the "year round" sport mentality, which in a sense, is a "more is more" approach.

This is leading to earlier burnout, and sometimes even graver outcomes for those athletes that have undiagnosed mental health conditions.  

Triad Athletes is made up of parents, family members and student athletes that have many different perspectives on "why I play sports," or "why I support my child's sports goals."  However, I would say one common lens is the sports they play are providing them a sense of community and that community, is typically positive.  That's why they keep coming back.  

However, sometimes this confidence in that positive reality could create a smokescreen for the issues that cause burnout.

And maybe even blindfolding those warning signs completely.

 

Women's Sports Foundation Dealing with Burnout in Competitive Sports Triad Athletes San Diego girls lacrosse

Even though these signs are issues you may see without the student athlete experiencing serious burnout, there are useful and productive ways to create habits that can be helpful regardless.

Student Athlete Reduce Burnout Tips

Parents are one of, if not the most, important resources for their athletes on modeling and creating healthy habits when they approach sports.  Parents can use their language, actions and recommendations on how they spend their time and money with their athletes.

Every student athletes has different needs, so all tools are not created equal, however, there are a few tips for parents looking to check in with how they are approaching sports as their children develop past the purely recreational fun teams, to a more competitive program.

Parent Tips to help your athlete with burnout Triad Athletes

These tips and resource material are here to help our Triad Athletes and their families navigate the growth of competitive women's sports, especially in lacrosse.  We are excited to have a broader audience and competition in the game we love, but always want to be cognizant that at the end of the day, it is just a game. 

 


Erica Jackson

"All I want to do is have fun," said Erica, every day of her life. A lacrosse stick in her hand since 9, Erica is a high energy, hype girl, Maryland native, and Lacrosse Coach with an MBA. You will see Erica literally running all over Encinitas, but if you ever catch her in a car, it's because she's a part-time taxi driver to her 2 kids.


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