just wanted to know if anyone had some differ signs of when a kid is burnt out for the season,besides less desire to go to practice,school work decline,and decline in practice activity.Every kid is different.

My son has been wrestling since he was 9, he is now 14. He has been very successful since the beginning, so when he announced last year at districts he didn't want to go on to state....I didn't know what to do. Coaches talked to him, we talked to him and we come to find out he was just wore out. I don't know if burned out is the same thing, but his body was just wore out. He also felt the pressure getting to him and that with being so tired made him feel like he didn't want to go on.
At his coaches and doctors advice, we started him on coconut oil pills. Totally natural and believe it or not they worked. He got his energy back, his drive back and his want to wrestle. Could have been all in his head....don't know.

We were prepared to let him quit if we really thought that is what he wanted, but we didn't. His coaches had seen it before and knew what was happening.

I don't know if this helped, but thought I would try.

Placebos are effective half of the time. I'm glad to hear that he is feeling better. The only way to know if the oil did it is to conduct a double blind study. But again, if they 'work', (ie. placebo effect) GREAT!

My son Cody had burnout last year it showed in him being inconsistent in practice and in his matches.When it came to sign up for wrestling this year he said he wanted to take a year off.I told him that was fine that he was the one having to do the work so it was totally up to him.This was hard for me to do I really enjoy watching him and his friends wrestle but I would rather have him take a year off now vs not wanting to wrestle later in highschool or to do it and be unhappy just to make me happy.

A lot of times you see kids that fall under the 1st year of another age group not as ready to compete. Example a young 13 year old that is in the 14 & unders and not quite ready to take on the freshman high schoolers who practice 5 days per week. You also see that in some of the younger groups a young 9 year old who just moved to the 10 & under group and maybe facing an eleven year old. I see that once or twice a year and just tell those kids to come to practice.

We experienced this a couple of years ago with our son, he had wrestled hard for a few years and started to get burned out. He was very busy with alot of other activities[baseball,motorcycles,lacrosse,football]. We let him make the choice to take a break from wrestling. It was a good choice for him individually, he is now wrestling with all his heart and doing great. Yes he did miss out alot technically on his wrestling skills but with great coaching by the Leavenworth County Spartans coaching staff he is now competing in age group and weight. I believe every child is unique in their own personal achievements and this issue is also an individual one. Just be positive in what ever decision is made. Good luck to all who have to jump this hurdle.

Generally, a way to avoid burnout, is to leave a kid hungry!

My suggestion, is to plan limited tourney's you are going to enter. I think going every weekend during a four or five month season is too much for most kids!

Randy,
You are soo right. The best advice! Although, I have read a few new ideas to keep in mind.

My youngest has taught me soo much during his 15 years. But this is one lesson we learned together. We learned two years ago to 'plan' his seasons. Niether of us always agreed with the other. But we compromised to an 'agreed calendar'.

Last year was extremely tough, and the worst case example...
A very young Freshman [13 turning 14] adjusting to the HS arena [with personalities degrading on his successes in Kids]. And then, further complicated with [still present] personal issues ...things just kind of fell apart all the way round. He was burned out, ready to quit, and wanted to hide away. I had to be willing [barring emergencies] to let him stumble through some of his own choices/mistakes - at his own pace. He loves this sport and tried to return several times. But each time the tank guage lied. We finally agreed to write the year off.

This year, older and wiser. It's been difficult at times, but managable because he has an evolving plan. We are trying to manage his tournament schedule even a little closer; cushioning for the unexpecteds. I still bark the oppossing options [a dad's job], but I secretly watch with amazement. He now seems to be more objective and appreciates the opprtunity to plan his seasons/efforts [commitment with ever improving behavior].

Maybe next year we will understand it as well as you already apparently do. Once again, I'm reminded why I enjoy your advice.

Scott-
Knowing Garrett, I have seen what you described above and have to agree that he is a different kid this year. Best of luck to him!
As for my son, being a freshman and wrestling Varsity I think has really improved his drive. He is challenged daily in practice and weekly on the mat. Where in kids wrestling, he seemed to get bored after a while which drove down his drive. If anything, high school wrestling has replenished his thirst for the sport.

Thanks. I know yours has exceeded all our expectations for this year, AND will no doubt finish strong. Yes, though they've long been friends, his arrival was especially good for Garret. Garret took the opportunity to really "welcome" the freshman and enjoy sharing the mat times with an obvious friend.

I think the season is too long and it seems that every year, it just keeps getting longer. You hate to start practices too soon but every year, there is a new "early-bird" tournament and parents wondering why the your club hasn't started yet. Then, come February and March, kids start complaining about having to go wake up early every Saturday.

My advice is similiar to others, do NOT go to every tournament every week. Give them a break once in a while. Have practices that are fun and make the weekends a special time (such as going out to eat as a family after the tournaments). When wrestling becomes something a kid HAS to do, it becomes work. When wrestling is something a kid WANTS to do, than it is play. What's hard is to knowing the difference.

My grandson has been doing well in wrestling for several years, and at the end of last year and also the beginning of this year, he seemed to be burned out. As it all comes out, he wanted to try basketball for a change and felt bad about saying so. He plays football and baseball also and he is just curious about basketball. I'm glad he is exploring other sports before he goes to high school.

Yep, they should explore as much as possible. Keep it fun.

we look forward to seeing both of these young men in our kids club after they are released from there high school team and enjoy watching them mature
OWC