Category: Public life articles

BURNOUT MUST BE NOTICED, OTHERWISE BIG TROUBLE CAN HAPPEN

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Source: A kiégést észre kell venni, különben nagy baj lehet – nb1.hu

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Burnout in sport

Burnout is a common issue that affects many athletes, but is often discussed as a taboo subject. Burnout is a condition that happens when someone is exposed to long-term stress. And they can no longer cope on their own. Take the case of a young footballer who is showing symptoms of burnout. His coach reacts like this: "Don't you want to go to the training?!". Or "You are not committed enough!". Overtraining, overload, injuries and the pressures of competitive sport are common stress factors. If these symptoms appear, it is important that the athlete takes a break in time. It is necessary to rest and to find out what is causing the stress with the help of a professional.

This article explores the problem of burnout from a player's perspective. But it is equally relevant for coaches, club managers, parents and all people involved in sport. It can help us to become more sensitive to the signs of burnout in our environment.

Reasons for burnout in athletes

There are many reasons why athletes burn out, one of the most common being the lack of positive feedback and reinforcement. As a result, the player becomes dissatisfied with his situation and his self-confidence decreases. Coaches often try to achieve success with their players through inadequate communication. This can result in burnout and, in extreme cases, retirement from the sport. It can also lead to the leaving of a team-mate who has been a support in the player's life. The lack of a partner can have a negative effect on his motivation. Positive reinforcement can therefore be asked for and received by the player from someone other than his coach, someone who is credible to him, as a coping strategy. It is also useful to give positive feedback to yourself when you have done something well according to your own expectations.

The next reason for burnout can be monotony, overwork and, at the same time, lack of rest. Basically, it is the responsibility of the professional staff working alongside the coaches to prepare the players adequately for their current match. However, the sports psychologist can also be a warning system, recognising the signs of overwork. The chance of being selected for the team usually makes players present themselves as tough and tireless, which is not an honest communication to the coach. Therefore, a sports psychologist can play an important role in recognising overwork and, in consultation with the player, can report it to his coach. Signs of overwork include fatigue, mood swings, loss of motivation, loss of appetite, frequent illnesses and injuries, sleep problems, stagnant or decreasing performance. As well as the already mentioned decreased self-confidence.

Other reasons may be too high expectations of the player, too difficult or unrealistic goals A good example of this is a case I had with a youth footballer. Under pressure from his parents, he was selected for a very strong secondary school after finishing his primary education. As it was important for the family to continue high level studies, they wanted to motivate their child by saying that if he did not get at least a 4 average in his semester, he could temporarily give up football. However, for the player, football was the first priority, so the training sessions meant that he was unable to fulfil the academic requirements. Finally, by discussing the situation with the parents, the young player's burnout was prevented.

The burnout process

The burnout process can be divided into five stages. If the athlete is intervened in one of the first four stages, a complete burnout can be prevented.

In the idealism stage, the player throws himself into training with great enthusiasm. He often sets himself unrealistic goals. In my experience, this is very typical during the pre-season, when a player is new to a team. In such cases, the player wants to show that he has more potential than his performance in the previous season. That's fine, it's about setting realistic goals. And to achieve them step by step, the right strategy must be defined.

The realism stage the player realises his own abilities, potential and limitations. It is then that he creates a more realistic image of himself. However, this requires self-awareness, because it can be disappointing if he or she is not able to achieve the goal he or she has planned and desired for so long. A strong network of relationships, family support and consciousness can be important at this stage.

If the player enters a stagnation stage,, his enthusiasm and performance decrease. His interest in training tasks and matches is reduced. This is often perceived by the coach as a lack of commitment on the field. The coach thinks: "I have another player who is more motivated, I'll put him in instead." But this makes the footballer even less motivated and leads to further burnout. This is usually when the player or his coach asks for the help of a sports psychologist. After all, the athlete is no longer performing on the pitch in the way he or she was hired to perform.

In the fourth, frustration stage, the athlete's own expectations no longer match reality, leading to serious frustration. At this point, the player often escapes into training and the compulsion to prove the training work becomes dominant. While his private sphere is reduced, his relationship with his team-mates and coach deteriorates. His private life also suffers. In this case, a longer process of sports psychology is needed, usually combined with a change of club and a process of integration into the new team.

In the apathy stage, apathy and disinterest are the most common symptoms. The player is introverted, depressed, hopeless and lacking in enthusiasm. He does not set new goals for himself for fear of real or perceived defeat. He finds no joy in sport or in his private life. This condition can lead to health problems, mental disorders and injuries. At this stage, the athlete's identity is being questioned and the end of competitive sport is being considered.

Burnout prevention and handling

The well-trained coach manages his or her athlete's strength, looking for methods that result in a diversified workload. He sets realistic goals for his player and focuses on the overall development process. Not just temporary success. He sees the player as a partner and takes his professional ideas and feedback seriously. It is useful to indicate to the player what he was good at during a training session or match. Then discuss what he needs to improve on. Giving clear, concrete instructions, positive criticism and supportive communication are essential to prevent burnout.

Another important aspect is that there should be periods between training sessions and matches when the athlete is allowed the "luxury of rest". When they can do something completely unrelated to their sport. Recharged, they will perform more effectively, which ultimately leads to team success. It is also the athlete's responsibility to consult a sports psychologist if he or she is experiencing symptoms of burnout. They can learn a variety of relaxation techniques to help them cope with tension and relax effectively. During the process of sports psychology, the footballer can focus on himself and develop self-knowledge. He learns to recognise, accept and take seriously the signals of his body.

All in all, the balance between skills, challenges, private life and sport is an essential factor in preventing burnout. In my work, I have noticed that athletes are nowadays less and less secretive about the fact that they consult a sports psychologist. Realistic self-assessment involves recognising that they need professional support to protect and develop their mental health.

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GROSICS, THE UNBREAKABLE - PSYCHOLOGY OF GOALKEEPERS 3.

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Source: GROSICS, THE UNBREAKABLE - PSYCHOLOGY OF GOALKEEPERS 3.

So far, Gábor Király and Szabolcs Balajcza have talked about the secrets of goalkeeping in their own careers. In the last part, I remember Gyula Grosics from a sports psychology point of view. The reason for this is that his career and his human values are an example for today's football community. The following article is based on my personal in-depth interview with Edina Grosics, the daughter of the legendary goalkeeper, and on the Crossbar based on an analysis of the documentary film.

Gyula Grosics, the innovator

The legendary goalkeeper of the Golden Team wanted to be a field player as a child, but the athlete with excellent athletic qualities saw goalkeeping as a lonely profession. Nowadays, playing with the feet is a fundamental requirement, with future goalkeepers often training to be field players until the age of 10 or 12. However, Gyula Grosics was the first goalkeeper to bravely leave the penalty area and enter the game with his feet. All this happened 70 years ago, and he was a genuine pioneer in the development of the modern goalkeeping game.

Gyula Grosics' life took a decisive turn at the age of fourteen when the coach of Dorog's adult team put him in goal, as none of his goalkeepers came to the match. "Son, today you will play." - his future coach whispered in his ear. The boy who had been picking up the ball in training suddenly found himself in goal in a second division match. This real-life situation shows that one of the most important skills people had at that time was to adapt. Nowadays it's the other way round. Football academies are adapting to the needs of young players, competing with each other for the favour of the athletes. They offer a complex service and athletes need only focus on their performance. However, this means that they grow up in a bubble and may lack the life situations in which a truly deep commitment to sport can develop. This is what Gábor Király the other great goalkeeping legend of the Hungarian national team, during the interview with him.

Also known as the Black Panther, Gyula Grosics during his active career garduated at the University of Physical Education, where he studied coaching - and later worked in Kuwait as coach for two years - and worked for many years alongside football. However, it is now less accepted within the sport to go to university or even run your own business while building a professional career. "It takes the focus away from maximum sport performance"ytől” - often heard from professionals. However, in my work with athletes, I find that this is often just an explanation to grab onto during otherwise natural ups and downs. In my opinion is just about good for the long-term physical and mental health of athletes if they have more than one leg, as the intensity of the crisis can be reduced in the event of injury.

                                Gyula Grosics in the 6:3 Hungary-England, photo by Barrats/PA/Getty Images

Gyula Grosics was also a great innovator, inspiring 15 million people to perseverance and sacrifice. "There was nothing but bitterness in the country at the time" - as he said in the documentary about him. Following the victory at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, the whole Hungarian nation experienced the glory of "We won!". This victory had a special meaning for the Hungarian people suffering under socialism. The national team of the time gave people hope for their Hungarian identity, which is what made the Golden Team so special. And that is what makes the Hungarian football team of today so special. I regularly see children on TV asking for the national team players, holding up sheets and cardboard: "Please give me your jersey!"

Gyula Grosics the team player

In 1949 - the period after the Second World War - Gyula Grosics decided to go abroad to play football with a number of his colleagues in the hope of a better life. However, a day before departure, the action, banned by the state, was cancelled. But the legendary goalkeeper was not told, so he turned up at the appointed time and place, where people with AVH were waiting for him. Then began a fifteen-month period of interrogation, psychological and verbal abuse, which "You can forgive, but you can't forget" - as the goalkeeper said. But it was impossible to break Gyula Grosics, who would not name any of his colleagues. He was a man of great respect, as his perseverance and sacrifice made him a role model for a generation. He was a team player not only on the field but off it as well. He experienced sacrifice for the community as a child. He and his mother went out to a mobile concentration camp to feed prisoners of war over the fence. One day, a soldier noticed this and, in front of 6-year-old Gyula Grosics, he shot his mother in the back with a rifle. It was one of the defining childhood memories that taught the future Golden Team goalkeeper that sacrifice for others can be painful.

"Get a good goalkeeper!" - is what the experts say when they are working on building a team that can hit the ground running. Back then, Tatabánya had that. Even though the Golden Team goalkeeper was sent down to the mining town as a punishment, he did not react with resistance. "As a goalkeeper for Honvéd, I had little to save in a match, and even if I conceded one goal, Puskás scored two in front. In Tatabánya I experienced that even one goal can decide the result of a match." - said about this period. His goalkeeper qualities are shown by the fact that for years Tatabánya conseded the fewest goals in the national championship, although the team did not play a dominant role in the Hungarian top league. This could be because he saw goalkeeping as the most responsible position. Szabolcs Balajcza has similar views on the issue of the responsibility of goalkeepers Szabolcs Balajcza also the current goalkeeper coach of Puskás Akadémia, who was an excellent goalkeeper for Kaposvár and Újpest a few years ago.

Gyula Grosics and the Providence of God

The legendary national team goalkeeper has worn the jersey 86 times, and in 2011 he was awarded the title of National Athlete by the Hungarian state. To achieve these outstanding results, he needed determination and perseverance, the seeds of which were already in him at the age of four when he had a fight with his mother at home and decided to leave the country. Of course, such a statement is sometimes made by a child of that age, but Gyula Grosics did walk to the railway station and jump on a train. His mother, for some reason, sensed that he might be at the station, so she got out just in time to order him off the departing vehicle. The boy jumped from the wagon and landed 10-15 centimetres from the train wheels. Later, the legendary goalkeeper said that it was the first time in his life that he had experienced the providence of God that had guided him through difficult times. In fact, becoming a goalkeeper requires a very strong inner faith. Gábor Király, for example, used to cry until he was 12 years old after a goal that made him emotional. Szabolcs Balajcza, on the other hand, barely got a chance to play between the ages of 14 and 16 under his coach. Yet all three goalkeepers have gone on to fantastic careers because of their inner belief in each of them.

To know where we are going, it is also important to consider where we started from. Throughout his career and throughout his life, the Black Panther has stood by his decisions, and it has taken great courage to do so. With this courage, he set an example not only to his current club team and national team, but to the whole Hungarian nation. As a patriot, on and off the pitch.

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