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(NEW YORK) — Injuries, overtraining and burnout contribute to a high dropout rate in youth sports, according to a new report from the nation’s leading group of pediatricians.
The report, released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that 70 percent of children drop out of organized youth sports before the age of 13.
Additionally, according to the report, nearly one in ten young athletes suffer from burnout and up to 35 percent of them suffer from overtraining.
“Sports are such a powerful and fun motivator to keep young people physically and mentally active, but some young people may feel pressure from parents, coaches and others to measure success solely by performance,” Joel S. Brenner, MD, MPH, a member of the AAP and an author of the report, said in a statement shared by the AAP.
Here are three questions answered about the AAP report and takeaways for parents.
What are the details of the report?
The AAP’s latest report replaces its first clinical report on the topic of children and sports, published in 2007.
The report is intended as a guide for pediatricians on how to treat young athletes, both mentally, with risk factors like burnout, and physically.
The report notes that youth sports are the “primary pathway to physical activity” for children in the United States and can help promote lifelong physical activity habits that help people achieve both mentally and physically.
Noting the high percentage of children dropping out of youth sports, the report states: “Discontinuing sports during childhood plays a role in more than 75 percent of adolescents in the United States not meeting recommendations in terms of physical activity. »
What are the signs of burnout and overtraining?
Symptoms of burnout can include fatigue, sleep problems, muscle pain, weight changes, and decreased enjoyment of sports.
Overtraining occurs when athletes experience a decline in performance due to persistent fatigue or mood changes. It is estimated that it affects 35% of young athletes when they reach adulthood.
Overuse injuries are also common among young athletes, which researchers suspect is because young, growing bones are less tolerant of stress than those of adults.
Single-sport athletes, girls, overweight children, and those who perform repetitive movements such as running, throwing, and gymnastics are at higher risk of sustaining these injuries.
“Whether training is specialized or multisport, it becomes a problem when an athlete no longer has free play time or the opportunity to participate in other non-sport activities,” Andrew Watson, MD, MS, AAP member and another co-author of the report, said in a statement.
What does the report recommend for children and sport?
To play safely, the AAP recommends that young athletes play no more than one sport per day and ensure at least one day of rest per week, in addition to two to three months off from each sport per year.
Children and adolescents interested in endurance sports such as marathons should discuss their supervised training plans and undergo a screening evaluation with their pediatrician, the report said.
Parents can also help young athletes by promoting good nutrition and sleep habits to help children “optimize their recovery,” according to the report.
The AAP acknowledges in the report that organized sports can be beneficial for children.
According to the report, participating in organized sports can help support psychosocial development, as well as help children and adolescents meet the recommended physical activity of 60 minutes per day, provided that this is done at a consistent pace. balanced and age-appropriate manner. and funny.
The AAP recommends that parents and coaches “measure success” beyond wins and losses, noting that it should be based on participation and effort, as well as “skill acquisition, safety and sportsmanship.
“It is important to teach our athletes to focus on their well-being and listen to their bodies,” Brenner said in a statement. “We can encourage mindfulness, time away from sport and other ways to prevent injury or burnout. If you have any questions, always talk to your pediatrician.
Erin Hannon, MD is a pediatric resident physician at Columbia University/New York-Presbyterian Hospital and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.
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