SECTION A

Burnout in sport is a syndrome that causes athletes to become physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Keeping this in mind, please answer the following questions:

  1. Discuss the causes of burnout in sport (10)
  2. List the dimensions, definitions, and symptoms of burnout (10)
  3. Indicate the intervention strategies that can be employed to deal with burnout in sport (15)

SECTION B

Doping is a serious challenge in sport. To illustrate, Russian athlete Tatyana Tomashova has been banned from athletics for ten-years and stripped of a silver medal she won after testing positive in 2021 for anabolic steroids. To put the issue of doping into context, please pay attention for the following instructions:

  1. Find three recent scientific articles (2020-2024) on doping in sport
  2. Decide on the area of focus to streamline the topic (i.e. doping and the law, whose problem is doping in sport, the consequences of doping etc.)
  3. Then generate an annotated bibliography of ±150 words for each article by summarising specific parts of each article as follows:
    o Aim/purpose (15)
    o Hypothesis, and research design (15)
    o Data collection, and data analysis (15)

SECTION C

Generate a one-page report that summarises the findings of the three articles (selected on Section B) on doping.
Pay attention for the following instructions:

o Taking into account Section B, note that you are expected to integrate the findings of the three articles to enable an academic discussion (15)
o Provide a conclusion (5)

Answers to Above Questions on Burnout in Sports by Expert

Expert Answer 1: Burnout in sports can be defined as a condition in which athletes experience physical, emotional as well as mental presence, and it ultimately affects their ability to perform. Burnout results in a lower level of motivation, fatigue and also leads to changes in mood. However, an analysis indicates that the causes of burnout in sports can be many. Some of the important ones include:

1) Extensive level of training: Athletes undergo an extensive level of training and contributing beyond their ability can often result in physical exhaustion. Because of high intensity training, it often results in a decline in their energy levels, and ultimately contributes towards burnout.

2) Psychological pressure: This is another important reason that contributes towards burnout in sports. There is an extensive level of pressure from coaches to perform, and it can be a serious condition leading to mental stress. There is also a fear of failure among the athletes, as it could negatively affect their image in front of others, and they therefore develop emotional fatigue overtime

3) Unrealistic expectations: Setting up impossible goals can often result in failure to accomplish them and it ultimately contributes towards frustration. This not only affects their motivation level, but also contributes towards lower future participation.

4) Inadequate sleep: Sleep is highly essential for everyone and it is especially crucial for athletes. The need to have sufficient sleep in order to remain fit, as it directly impacts their mental ability to perform. Athletes that do not give importance to rest and down time are highly exposed to the issue of burning out.

There can be many other reasons that contribute towards burnout in sport among athletes. It is important for them to remain physically and mentally fit by following practices such as adequate sleep, non-participation in activities that lead to physical exhaustion, and controlling emotions even in case of failure to perform.

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