Burnout is a killer for athletes. One minute you’re on top of the world, and the next you’re questioning whether you even want to continue this game. I’ve watched so many of my peers fall from cloud nine, to burnout, to quitting altogether. We all feel as though we need to be perfect. That we need the highest stats, or to pitch a perfect game every single time, even though that’s far from the truth. Watching high school coaches push kids past their physical limits, just because they were one of “the best players” on the field. This is becoming such a large issue in high school sports. Student-athletes are quitting the games they love because they are mentally and physically exhausted. We’re seeing this in collegiate sports as well. NCAA DI athletes are removing themselves from teams, or programs, or even this world in general because mental health isn’t talked about enough and they aren’t getting the help they need.

I myself have dealt with this same issue. Draining practices of being pushed harder and harder day after day and week after week. While the time and reps on the field is something I value and cherish; sometimes coaches don’t see when an athlete is struggling. No one truly knew when I was having a hard time, when I was ready to quit, until I finally did. Having played every week with a club coach that didn’t believe in me as an athlete, I was doubting myself constantly. High school sports were my saving grace; and even then that could become too much. Having had the weight of the team placed on my shoulders by both my coaches and teammates who depended on me. I was done. Club sports came with being degraded for hours on end, and being made to run poles for a missed dive attempt. High school came with the need to be perfect. Things were rough. My mental health was deteriorating and I didn’t want to continue on.

Especially in young athletes, mental health is extremely important . While I have my own personal stories, I know others share similar experiences. I’ve watched teammates and friends leave games in tears and break down on the field because they were so mentally exhausted. So scared or mad at themselves for making a mistake. When being pushed to those limits, it’s hard to remember our sports are just games, something to have fun. At some points, it takes a coach taking the time to work with you, not just treat you like a machine that can just run until it breaks. It took a few months for Coach Lee to pull me out of my headspace where I no longer wanted to play softball. Now Coach Jeremy is having to do the same thing. However, I could not feel more confident with the game I love now. As I continue on to the next level of play, I can only hope to do the same there.

While I understand students CHOOSE to play their sports, we still have to recognize them as kids too. We’re out there to have fun, to play a game with people we love. Check in with your athletes, especially if they start to seem on edge, or irritable, or if they slowly stop giving effort. It doesn’t mean they’re lazy; they’re likely just burnt out and exhausted. Even if not, check in just because. Here’s the thing about athletes, they can smile and act like everything is fine because they don't want to miss out on playing time.

Read up on the signs of burnout: nata.org/sites/default/files/mental_health_handout.pdf

Also, keep in mind: student-athletes are human too.