Around 70% of adolescent athletes quit competitive athletics by the age of 13 with
burnout being a major cause. It is way more common for girls to quit their sports than boys.
Athlete burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion.

Athlete burnout is caused by many contributing factors such as pressure to perform
well, lack of balance in life, overtraining, injuries, poor coping mechanisms, and negative
experiences. Common symptoms of athlete burnout include loss of interest, changes in
mood, reduced performance, and overall exhaustion.

Burnout in athletes often goes unnoticed. Athletes are trained too always “tough it
out” so in situations like this they ignore their symptoms because of the desire to succeed.
Many athletes fail to take breaks because they don’t want to disappoint their teammates or
fall behind in their sport. It is normalized in competitive sports environments to push
through pain whether it is physical or mental.

To prevent athlete burnout, it needs to become more recognized by coaches and
players. Rest and recovery should be a priority for athletes. Open communication between
coaches and players is also key to understanding and preventing burnout.
-https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-
sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/