The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most online retailers!
QUESTION: How do we spot tennis burn out?
Frank: Did you know that even the very best in the business don’t stay in their “Optimal Performance State” year around? ATP and WTA tour professionals rarely play more than three events in a row. They need the critical “down” time to recharge, heal and fix flaws.
It’s not in your child’s best interest to force them to try to stay in their peak performance state 365 days a year. Taking a week off to re-charge the physical, mental, and emotional batteries may help your child peak when it counts most. This is part of the periodization cycle. Yes- taking time off may help them to be more committed and focused when their tennis training commences- leading to better results.
NOTE: The number one reason junior players report that they want to quit tennis is due to overzealous parents unknowingly pushing them past the healthy limits.
While developing high-performance athletes, I am constantly on high-alert for the warning signs of burnout. The signs of burnout can be physical, mental or emotional. Let’s look at some typical signs to assist you in knowing when it’s time for your athlete to take a break from their tennis quest.
20 Signs of Tennis BurnOut:
- Multiple injuries.
- Reduced flexibility in their body.
- Complaining about fatigue.
- Reduced concentration.
- Fear of competition.
- Lack of emotional control.
- Poor judgment.
- Decreased opponent awareness.
- Negative verbal or physical outbursts.
- Lack of motivation to practice or to hit the gym.
- Unwillingness to compete in a tournament.
- Poor equipment preparation.
- Appearing slow and heavy with no energy.
- Lack of anticipation and agility.
- Short attention span.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Lack of concern about performance goals.
- Low patience.
- A sense of hopelessness.
In my opinion, if your child is showing several of the above negative signs and seems to be in a downward spiral, it may be in their best interest to put down the racquets for a while. A true contender can only stay away for a short time. Parents, allow them to heal. Then slowly re-start a deliberate customized developmental process.
SPECIAL NOTE: During your child’s time off court, encourage them to stay in physical shape by enjoying non-tennis cross-training.
