Combatting the Mid-Season Blues

Football, nice weather, and pumpkin-spice lattes can only mean one thing, fall is officially upon us. While the seasons may have just changed, many fall sports are already approaching the mid-season mark. Mid-season is the most delicate time for all athletes.

The halfway point is when months of hard training combined with intense competition begin to take a toll on the body. At the same time, academic demandsincrease, as due dates and midterms loom near. This combination of athletic and academic stress is the mid-season blues. Typically, this is when athletes start to breakdown physically, mentally, and emotionally – suffering overuse injuries such as stress fractures or showing early signs of burnout.

There are steps that any athlete or coach can take to lessen the impact, or even prevent entirely, the midseason blues. These suggestions apply for athletes in any sport at any level.

1. Rest and Recover. It is vital that athletes take time to rest after practices and games. Every coach, athlete, and parent should know that the body does not get stronger during practice but during recovery. Without the proper amount of rest, the body will not have enough time to rebuild and re-energize, resulting in the body continuing to break down without getting stronger. This pattern can lead to overuse injuries.

Without proper rest and recovery athletes can experience mental fatigue, decreased motivation and burnout. It is tough to stay motivated while consistently pushing through prolonged periods of intense training and high levels of competition. A couple of days off can help refresh an athlete, helping them both physically and mentally recuperate.

2. Bring Back the Fun. Kids first participate in sports because they are fun. However, it is easy to forget about fun during the heart of the season. An overemphasis on wins and losses, especially with the younger age groups, can suck the fun out of the sport. It is not because wins and losses are bad themselves, but it is the reactions to their team’s record can cause problems.

Losses tend to turn the team’s focus on the weaknesses, filling practices with drills and conditioning. Wins tend to turn the team’s focus on the strengths, tempting the best players to become over-confident. Both scenarios take emphasis away from enjoying the sport. Regardless of the statistics, everyone should take some time to play games, scrimmage, and encourage friendly competition. The result will be happier players excited for the next game.

3. Be Thankful. Everyone involved in sports – parents, coaches, athletes, administrators, fans – should be thankful for the opportunities to they have to be involved in sports. We must all remember that playing a sport is a privilege, especially at the higher levels. Being able to practice, travel, and compete is not something that everyone gets to experience. Every coach should require their athletes to reflect on the opportunities given to them to be able to play a sport that they enjoy. It does not have to be long, a moment or two of quiet contemplation, to honor the opportunity and not take anything for granted. It is amazing how a little thankfulness can put everything in perspective, helping athletes stay motivated throughout the season.

A mid-season slump may not manifest itself in poor performance or extra losses, but it will affect their desire and excitement to play the game. But incorporating some simple steps into training will help combat the midseason blues, setting up individuals and teams for a successful late-season run, hopefully extending deep into the postseason.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 9:07 AM with the headline "Combatting the Mid-Season Blues."