Basketball Burnout

What is it? Essentially it means the fun is gone. When playing or coaching basketball becomes a job instead of a game, when it becomes stressful instead of challenging, then somethings wrong and something needs to be done.

What needs to be done? Well, now this is the tough part. The reason it is tough is because almost everyone involved enough in basketball to be affected by burnout, plays basketball or coaches or even officiates basketball because of one thing: All for the love of the game! That isn't just a saying that has been tossed around meaninglessly for generations. It rings with a certain amount of truth. When you love something, you part your heart into it and do the best you can so when it starts to be mentally, emotionally and sometimes physically burdensome, you have to take a step back and decide what to do next.

Some suggestions to cope with burnout.

Take a break. Take a break from the sport for a while. Try something else. It never hurts to try other sports. If you really love basketball, don't let it become a burden.

Remember why you play. For the love of the game. If it does not mean anything unless you win then it might be time to rethink the mental aspect. That is what sports are for. Fun and health. Competition is great but it can be carried too far.

Take care of yourself. If injuries just keep popping up while playing then you need to either work out more on problem areas. Strengthen your weak spots. Or maybe you need a less stressful sport. It is hard to give up something you love but health comes first.

If you are a coach and you think you are getting burned out, maybe you should take a break too. Try coaching a different age group for a while. Or just do something else you enjoy doing.

As a coach, you can get burned out by taking things too personally too. Basketball is about fun and competition but listening to people critisize can sure be tough. Take it with a grain of salt and keep going.

See you on the court.