With the start of a new season upon us, I have a question for you, why did you start playing? For what reason did you decide to start competing? When you were a child I’m sure you started playing because it was fun, and you enjoyed it. Is it still fun? Do you still enjoy it? If not why not? What are you playing for? These are the questions you have to ask yourself as the season starts. Remember, sports are meant to be fun, when you can relax and enjoy yourself while playing the game becomes easier.
If you started playing for fun, why did you continue playing? What is your reason? Are you still enjoying playing? Or did it just become a chore? If it became a chore, why? When did it no longer become fun?
Burnout is one potential consequence of the sport becoming more of a chore and less fun. We hear it from professional players all the time, they are no longer enjoying themselves. More youth drop out of sports because of burnout than any other individual reason. And this is mostly because it has become more of a chore than anything else. Burnout can be caused due to stress from parents or coaches working their players too hard and taking the joy out of the game.
When you truly enjoy what you are doing, it isn’t a chore. The more fun you are having the easier the game will be and the more natural it will come. When you are enjoying yourself things just have a natural flow to them. Remember, sports are a game and games are meant to be played. When you play you are meant to enjoy yourself and have fun, otherwise what’s the point?
Always remember the child in you, that first joy you got from playing. Remember, you “play” the game, go out and enjoy it. No matter what level you play, remember the pure joy of playing. They often say that if you are doing something you enjoy, you will never work a day in your life.