Coach’s Corner: What Are the Signs of Burnout in Junior Players?
You don’t usually see burnout coming.
It doesn’t arrive with a big moment or a dramatic collapse.
It creeps in quietly… session by session… until the player who once couldn’t wait to get on court starts finding reasons not to.
And in racket sports — squash, padel, badminton, pickleball — where repetition, pressure, and individual responsibility are high… burnout can build faster than you think.
This isn’t about pushing players harder.
It’s about recognising when to pull them back.
🚨 The Key Signs of Burnout in Junior Players
1. 😐 Loss of Enjoyment
The biggest red flag.
- They stop smiling on court
- Sessions feel like a chore
- Matches feel like pressure, not excitement
👉 If the joy goes… performance usually follows.
2. 💤 Constant Fatigue (Physical & Mental)
Not just “tired after training” — something deeper.
- Always low energy
- Slower movement and reactions
- Mentally switched off during drills
👉 This often gets mistaken for laziness. It isn’t.
3. 😤 Increased Frustration & Emotional Swings
You’ll notice it quickly.
- Overreacting to small mistakes
- Negative self-talk
- Losing composure more easily
👉 Burnout reduces emotional resilience — especially in individual sports like squash.
4. 📉 Drop in Performance (Without Clear Reason)
They’re training… but getting worse.
- Timing feels off
- Decision-making declines
- Confidence disappears
👉 This is often the tipping point where coaches push harder — when actually, the player needs less.
5. 🚫 Avoidance Behaviours
This is where it becomes obvious.
- “I don’t feel well” before sessions
- Turning up late or disengaged
- Wanting to skip tournaments
👉 When a player starts avoiding the court, something’s wrong.
6. 🧍♂️ Going Through the Motions
They’re there… but they’re not there.
- No intensity in drills
- Minimal effort in rallies
- Lack of focus or intent
👉 This is one of the most overlooked signs.
7. 😴 Poor Recovery & Increased Injuries
Burnout doesn’t just affect the mind.
- Persistent soreness
- Small injuries lingering longer
- Increased risk of overuse issues
👉 The body starts to reflect the mental load.
8. 🧠 Loss of Confidence
A subtle but powerful shift.
- Doubting simple shots
- Playing safe or hesitant
- Avoiding responsibility in matches
👉 Burnout chips away at belief.
9. 🎯 Over-Focus on Results (Or Fear of Losing)
Especially in competitive juniors.
- Obsessing over rankings
- Fear of making mistakes
- Playing not to lose instead of to win
👉 When pressure outweighs enjoyment, burnout accelerates.
🧠 Why Burnout Happens in Racket Sports
Racket sports are unique:
- Individual pressure (no teammates to hide behind)
- High repetition (same movements, same drills)
- Frequent competition cycles
- Early specialisation in juniors
Add school, expectations, and social pressures… and it’s easy to see how players can become overwhelmed.
🛠️ What Coaches (and Parents) Should Do
This is the part that matters most.
✅ 1. Reintroduce Enjoyment
Make sessions:
- Varied
- Competitive in a fun way
- Less outcome-focused
👉 Sometimes the best session isn’t the most “productive” — it’s the one they enjoy.
✅ 2. Manage Load (Not Just Effort)
More isn’t always better.
- Reduce training volume temporarily
- Space out competitions
- Build in proper rest
👉 Recovery is part of training.
✅ 3. Shift the Focus Away From Results
Encourage:
- Effort
- Decision-making
- Improvement over outcome
👉 Especially important in junior development.
✅ 4. Talk (Properly)
Ask:
- “Are you enjoying it?”
- “What’s been frustrating you?”
- “What would you change?”
👉 And actually listen.
✅ 5. Allow Time Off (Without Guilt)
Sometimes the best thing you can do is:
👉 Let them step away.
A short break now can prevent a long-term exit from the sport.
🎯 Final Thought
Burnout doesn’t mean a player is weak.
It usually means:
👉 They’ve cared too much, for too long, without enough balance.
Your role as a coach isn’t just to develop better players.
It’s to ensure they still want to play in 5, 10, 15 years’ time.
🔗 Keep Supporting Your Players
👉 OLIVER Blog: https://oliversquash.co.uk/blog/
👉 Mental Tips: https://oliversquash.co.uk/category/mental-tips/
👉 Coaching Corner: https://oliversquash.co.uk/category/coaching-corner/