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BY ELLARY SCHRECK
MCHS Class of 2024
LEWISTOWN -- Sports are an important part of today's youth. Participation helps children grow physically, emotionally, and mentally and teaches them so many lessons that a typical hobby can't always provide.
Growing up in sports and improving in the sport you've fallen in love with can be such an amazing part of maturing, but what happens when those kids get older, get to high school, have longer practices, longer days, take it more seriously? How does this commitment affect athletes' mental health?
Athlete burnout has become a more prevalent issue in today's society as elite sports programs involving young athletes increase in popularity. So, why isn't this a more discussed aspect of youth sports?
According to The American College of Sports Medicine, 35 percent of student-athletes experience burnout, but only ten percent of those individuals actually report it or end up seeing a specialist. To learn more about how this issue affects local teenagers, The Tyrian (MCHS's school newspaper) offered a survey for students to provide their insights and experiences on participating in sports. Out of the 20 kids interviewed, 90 percent said they have been affected by athlete burnout.
"I love all the people and strength it has given me, but the constant pressure takes its toll," said Cassidy Martin, a senior at Central Mountain.
One of the most obvious factors to burn out is the sheer amount of time required of athletes both in and out of season. Furthermore, many participate in both varsity and elite or travel teams, which multiplies their obligations and schedules.
This is a common trend in cheerleading. Red Land High School freshman Ryan Dively spends more than 12 hours a week in the gym in both a school cheer and an elite cheer environment. MCHS sophomore Kiersten Parks spends close to 40 hours a month in a school cheer setting.
Other sports show the same time-consuming trends. MCHS senior Hayden Yoder spends 12 hours a week at baseball, and gymnast junior Kennedy Fisher spends 214 hours in and out of her season.
All of these teens are full-time students and part-time athletes. They wake up, go to school, go to practice and go home. The next day, the cycle repeats.
When openly asked if their sport ever interferes with their school work, twelve of twenty admitted that they often have trouble getting their work done.
"I get home around 3:10, give myself around 30 minutes, start getting ready, and I'm out the door at 4:15. I have practice from 5:30 to 7:30, then 7:30 to 9:30 (for two different teams). I get home at 9:50 and still have to eat, take a shower and do homework," explained Dively.
However, for athletes who are involved at high school and elite levels, sports aren't just a hobby, they're an integral part of their happiness and future plans.
"Being on my team means I have another family, and that is a positive side," MCHS senior, Hailey Runkle, said.
Other recognized benefits of being involved as a student athlete include the discipline and commitment that students develop. Student athletes learn the importance of setting goals, working hard, and overall staying focused.
So, if the benefits and joy of adolescent athletics is obvious, but first-hand interviews also indicate the potential for challenges, how do we help students maintain a balanced lifestyle?
College sophomore, Beth Petrosky, who has been an elite level athlete for most of her life says, "The biggest thing is time management. You will have some late nights, but sleep is so important so you don't get stressed. It's also helpful to have a planner."
Students' brains and bodies are their most important tools and need the most attention. Organization and time management are valuable tools, but sometimes those alone are not enough.
"Time away from sport is another method of preventing burnout," explains the National Athletic Trainer's Association. "Being away from the demands of their sport, even for a short period several times a year, provides an athlete with an opportunity to attend to their schoolwork and relationships that are necessary to leading a more rounded life that leads to enhanced motivation once they return to sport."