Hi Reader,
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Your kid’s alarm goes off, and they don’t move. You peek in and they’re just… staring at the ceiling.
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“I don’t know if I want to do this anymore,” they finally say.
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And you’re standing there wondering, is this “normal” teenage angst? Should I push them through it? Or is something bigger happening here?
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It could be any of the above, but for athletes, it’s important to consider whether burnout is at play. Research suggests 30% of youth athletes experience burnout. (Anecdotally, I’d argue that this number is higher, but that may be because I see a lot of it in clinical work).
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As parents, you’re often told kids just need to learn to “toughen up” or “push through.” At times? Sure. When it comes to burnout, however, I’d argue it’s definitely not something to just power through.
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​Here’s what we know about athletic burnout (particularly for teens): At Skadi, we tend to see four main culprits contributing to teen burnout:
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​1️⃣Year-round, single-sport training A lot of parents have been told that specialization is the path to success. However, when your kid is doing the same sport with no variety, their body and brain are likely hungry for something different.
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​2️⃣Adult training loads on a developing body If your teen is training at college-level intensity but still growing, their capacity to recover likely isn’t there yet.
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​3️⃣”Athlete” is their entire identity When you ask your kid who they are and “athlete” is the only answer, that tends to be a red flag; any setback can feel like their whole self is crumbling.
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​4️⃣ You (or their coach) are making all the calls I say this with love. Sometimes as parents, you feel the need to take over because you know what’s best for your child. You schedule everything. You decide what they eat, when they train, how they recover. But when they have zero autonomy? Burnout risk goes way up.
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​If any of this hits home, here’s what you can do THIS WEEK:
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​Give your teen ONE choice in their training. Seriously, just one.
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​Let them choose whether to go to practice or compete this weekend. Or what they eat before practice. Or which recovery method they use. It may feel small, but research shows that when athletes feel more control over their journey, they’re way less vulnerable to burnout.
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Try it and let me know how it goes!

Want the full toolkit?

We wrote a more comprehensive blog post that includes:
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✅ How to tell if it’s burnout, overtraining, or depression (they’re NOT the same thing)
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✅ 5 evidence-based strategies to help your teen recover their love for sport

If you’re watching your kid struggle and want expert support to help them through this, grab a free discovery call. Laurie specializes in working with youth athletes navigating burnout, performance anxiety, and the mental side of sport, she gets it because she’s been there too. AND she’s got immediate availability for athletes.

🎙️ This week on the Feisty Women’s Performance Podcast…

Dr. Britta Maria Sorensen reveals how pain isn’t just physical—it’s shaped by our bodies, minds, and social context, giving high‑performing women a smarter way to read their signals. Discover the “aha” moment that recognizing emotional pain can actually raise your endurance ceiling.
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🎧Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. ​

Til next time,
Dr. A

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