Overtraining Athletes: Personal Journeys in Sport

227 Pages·2008·4.209 MB·English

by  Sean O. Richardson, Mark B. Andersen, Tony Morris

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O
vertraining
a
thletes
Personal Journeys in sport
Sean O. Richardson, PhD
Mark B. Andersen, PhD
Tony Morris, PhD
Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
Centre for Ageing, Rehabilitation, Exercise, and Sport
and The School of Human Movement, Recreation, and Performance
Human Kinetics
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Richardson, Sean O., 1972-
Overtraining athletes : personal journeys in sport / Sean O. Richardson, Mark B. Andersen, and Tony Morris.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-6787-4 (soft cover : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-7360-6787-6 (soft cover : alk. paper) 1. Athletes--Training of. 2. Athletes--Psychology. 3. Physical education and
training. 4. Sports--Psychological aspects. 5. Sports--Physiological aspects. 6. Sports medicine. I. Andersen, Mark B., 1951- II.
Morris, Tony, 1950- III. Title.
GV711.5.R53 2008
613.7’11--dc22
2007048251
ISBN-10: 0-7360-6787-6 (print) ISBN-10: 0-7360-8673-0 (Adobe PDF)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-6787-4 (print) ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-8673-8 (Adobe PDF)
Copyright © 2008 by Sean O. Richardson, Mark B. Andersen, and Tony Morris
All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or by any electronic, mechani-
cal, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, and in any information
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For my Mom and Dad, Hilde and John, who have supported and loved me through all
of the ups and downs of my athletic and academic endeavours, who have been there
for me when I was knocked down by my own overtraining, and who have given me
confidence to accomplish anything and everything in life.
Sean O. Richardson, PhD
For all my athlete-clients who trusted me with their life stories and taught me more
about overtraining, desire, and human frailty than any book ever could.
Mark B. Andersen, PhD
For my family, Felicity, Rachel, and Adam who have put up with my own extreme
overtraining in sport psychology for way too long.
Tony Morris, PhD
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Contents
Preface: Reading This Book xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction xv
i
What We Know so Far 1
Part
1 introduction to research and terminology
ChaPter
in Overtraining: introduction to Overtraining 3

› Past Studies and Limitations in Overtraining Research 3
› Sorting Out the Terminology of Overtraining 5
› Why Language Is Important 11
› Stress and Recovery: Taking a Broader Viewpoint 11
› Conclusions 12
2 how Big is it? the Prevalence
ChaPter
and Manifestation of Overtraining 15

› Prevalence Research and Data for Overtraining 16
› Markers of Overtraining 18
› Other Overtraining Outcomes 27
› Conclusions 30
3 What Brings it On?
ChaPter
risk Factors for Overtraining 33

› Risk Factors for Overtraining 34
› Directions for Research on Overtraining Phenomena 44
› Conclusions 44
v
vi Contents
ii
What the experts have to say 47
Part
4 Coaches’ and sport scientists’ views
ChaPter
on risk Factors 49

› Characteristics, Behaviors, Attitudes, and Experiences
of Susceptible Athletes 49
› People, Factors, and Situations
That Pressure Athletes to Increase Training 52
› People, Factors, and Situations
That Affect Athletes’ Needs for Recovery 56
› Conclusions 58
5 Burnt Cookies:
ChaPter
Conversations With an exercise Physiologist 61

› Introducing the Exercise Physiologist 61
› Studying Oneself 61
› Training as an Exercise Physiologist 62
› The Source of Fascination:
Connecting Dave’s Story With His Athletes 64
› Coaches and Overtraining 66
› Stories of Professional Elitism 68
› Exercise Physiologist as Lay Psychologist 69
› Burnt Cookies 70
› Further Conversation With David Martin 71
› Why Does Overtraining Keep Happening? 72
› The Exercise Physiologist–Athlete Relationship 73
› When Service Goes Pear-Shaped 74
› The Quality of Relationships Fuels Change 74
› Why Do I Do What I Do? 75
› Reflections on David 76
6 sport systems Can Damage:
ChaPter
Conversations With a sport Psychologist 79

› Introducing Dr. Trisha Leahy 79
› Overtraining, Abuse, and Trauma 80
Contents vii
› Are You Uncomfortable Now? 81
› Exploring Perceived Risks 82
› The System Is the Problem 84
› Individual Risks Versus System Risks: False Dichotomies 84
› Psychosocial and Family Dynamics 85
› Harassment in Sport 86
› Silencing Men’s Voices in Sport 87
› Five Years Later in Hong Kong:
Overtraining and Trauma Revisited 88
› Duty of Care and Professional Bystanding 89
› You Have to Be Mentally Tough:
Cultural Values That Justify Abuse 92
› Men in Sport Revisited 92
› The Power of Early Experiences 94
› Perfectionism and Idealism 95
› Reflections on Trisha 96
› A Closing Story for Part II 97
iii
What Can We
Part
learn From athletes? 99

7 the Pathogenic World of
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Professional sport: steve’s tale 101

› Introducing Steve 101
› Early Ambivalence About Sport 101
› Love of the Game and Regret 102
› Playing for Pay 103
› Injury Mismanagement 104
› Coach and Medical Staff Pressures 105
› Going the Extra Mile 107
› Lessons Learned Early 108
› The Culture of Footy 109
› Living and Performing for Others 112
› Reflections on Steve 112
viii Contents
8 a Case of Olympic seduction: John’s tale 115
ChaPter
› Introducing John and His Seduction 115
› Olympic Gold as Love Object 115
› Early Successes 117
› Knowledge Versus the Human Heart 118
› The Devastation of Shattered Dreams 120
› Repeating Patterns 121
› Struggling to Understand 124
› Interpersonal Influences Driving Overtraining 126
› Reflections on John 130
9 the Perfect girl: Jane’s tale 133
ChaPter
› Introducing Jane 133
› I Am an Overtrainer! 134
› No One Can Stop Me 135
› Parental Influences 136
› Hiding Weaknesses and Battling Anxieties 139
› The Gravity of Weight 139
› Early Sport and Performance Lessons Learned 141
› Institutional Abuse 145
› The Good Coach Can’t Fix Her 146
› Internal and Cultural Drivers of Overtraining 148
› Reflections on Jane 151
10 the Perfect Boy: the author’s tale 153
ChaPter
› Sean’s Tale 153
› All Our Stories 160
› Athletes’ Perspectives and Risk Factors for Overtraining 160
› Athletes’ Stories Compared With
Athletes’ Experiences From the Literature 162
› Conclusions 165