Depersonalization, underachievement and emotional exhaustion all have a common link. They are all symptoms of athletic burnout syndrome, which means they are possible results of extensive involvement in sports. Despite the problems these symptoms can cause for athletes, they are both preventable and relievable.

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association defines burnout as “a chronic condition that develops when one is working too hard for too long in a high-pressure situation.” Another ailment, overtraining syndrome, can develop from similar conditions. According to The Physician and Sportsmedicine, overtraining syndrome occurs when an athlete experiences extreme physical and mental stress and has insufficient time to recover.

One stressor for adolescent athletes is demands from adults. Coaches and parents sometimes pressure students to play a sport and have win-at-all-costs attitudes. “If an athlete is really talented but doesn’t…like the sport they are usually pressured [by the coach] to [continue],” said sophomore junior varsity basketball and softball player Ashley Flowers.

Some sports are expensive to play as a result of the cost of necessary equipment. Even though students may lose interest in the sport partway through the season, the financial or time investment their parents may have made can pressure them to continue. One way to prevent this situation is to allow students to play a more active role in deciding which sports to play.

There are many ways one can prevent or alleviate athletic stress since it covers a wide range. One remedy for overtraining syndrome is rest, since the problem arises from too much activity with too little recovery time. Another is therapeutic exercise, including cross-training. For example, runners could use bicycles. This would allow them to exercise without harm because they would not overwork themselves as they did in the sport they play competitively.

Since time management can be a struggle for adolescents who have to balance academics and athletics, writing a schedule can prove to be beneficial. “It is a lot easier to be accountable for something once you’ve written it down,” said Dr. Keila Lopez, currently a fellow at Harvard University School of Public Health. “I also believe making time for friends…is important because it can alleviate the stress athletes go through.”

Cutting back on time spent on athletics is also helpful, especially for relieving overtraining syndrome or burnout. However, this is not always possible as some teams require daily practice. “Once you are on a varsity team you are expected to come to practice,” said RHS parent Martha Wagner.

While athletic activities can be highly beneficial to the health of adolescents, too much can stress them and reverse its effect. Stress can come from many sources, including coaches, parents, and students’ own habits. Although many students-athletes feel overwhelmed when met with pressure, simple remedies can be used to alleviate such stress.