What is burnout in youth sports, and what are key risk factors?

• A. A temporary fatigue after a single game.
• B. A syndrome of physical and emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment; risk factors include overtraining, early specialization, excessive parental pressure, lack of autonomy, and insufficient rest.
• C. Injury-related pain.
• D. A decline in performance due to weather.

Answer: (B)

Burnout in youth sports is a lasting state of physical and emotional exhaustion, a reduced sense of personal accomplishment, and often sport devaluation or withdrawal. It isn’t just rubbing out after one game; it’s a chronic pattern that affects motivation, mood, and continued participation. The best answer points to a syndrome with both the tired-legs and the tired-mind aspects, plus factors that raise risk: overtraining (too much, too often with insufficient recovery), early specialization (focused on one sport year-round at a young age), excessive parental pressure (high expectations and involvement that reduce joy), lack of autonomy (feeling controlled with little say in training or participation), and insufficient rest. Together these elements help explain why a young athlete might lose interest, underperform, and eventually drop out if the environment doesn’t support sustainable, enjoyable sport involvement. Temporary fatigue after a single game, injury-related pain, or performance dips due to weather are not the same as this chronic, multi-dimensional pattern.