PREVALENCE OF BURNOUT IN SOCCER ATHLETES OF THE UNDER-20 CATEGORY OVER A SPORTS SEASON

PREVALÊNCIA DO BURNOUT EM ATLETAS DE FUTEBOL DA CATEGORIA SUB-20 AO LONGO DE UMA TEMPORADA ESPORTIVA

ABSTRACT

The aims of the current study were: (a) to construct a reference table for burnout in soccer athletes of the U-20 category and (b) to verify the individual oscillations in the perception of these athletes in relation to burnout over three periods of the sports season. In total, 53 U-20 soccer athletes participated. The Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, Brazilian version, was applied to athletes during training, competition, and vacation periods of the sports season. A reference table was built for under-20 soccer athletes for each assessment period. Fluctuations were observed in the mean values of the total burnout frequency of the athletes during the 3 periods: training ($\overline{X}$=1.35 ± 0.13 and$\overline{X}$=2.11 ± 0.19), competition ($\overline{X}$=1.26 ± 0.13 and $\overline{X}$=2.27 ± 0.24), and vacation ($\overline{X}$=1.27 ± 0.14 and $\overline{X}$= 2.18 ± 0.28). Based on this table and the individual classification of each athlete, it was observed that 32 athletes presented fluctuations in the perception of burnout during the sports season and 21 athletes did not present fluctuations in feelings of burnout during the three evaluation periods. The period with the highest number of athletes (n = 17) with a high level of burnout was the training period. It is concluded that it is not possible to establish a single and collective behavior regarding the fluctuations in burnout levels in athletes of the U-20 category during a sports season, and that the category reference table contributes to greater accuracy of the burnout evaluation in each period in the season.

Key-words:
Professional exhaustion; Athlete; Sport Psychology