Why Do Athletes Drop Out Of Sports So Frequently?
Dropout rates are increasing amongst athletes in team sports (Keathley et al., 2013). While there may be some explanations that are less worrying, like kids wanting to try new hobbies as they go through adolescence, others are more under the control of parents, coaches, and even the athletes themselves.
Empowerment comes through knowledge, so let's look at some reasons athletes drop out according to a systematic review by Balish et al. (2014):
Low levels of intrinsic motivation (playing for the love of the sport, not some external reward)
Injuries
Lack of time or money
Poor relationships with coaches and teammates
One of the biggest indicators of drop-out rates, as noted by the team leading this 2022 systematic review by Back et al., is the climate that facilitates (or disrupts) one's ability to feel motivated and enjoy their sport.
Common pitfalls for coaches
Structuring practices to be excessively focused on skills development with an affinity for negative feedback will drive kids away from sports. Yes, skills development is of course important. Negative feedback is a part of the learning process, but it can be done in ways that facilitate a learner's mindset, not burnout.
For one, yelling this feedback at an athlete triggers their limbic system which is essentially a message of danger - this will not keep the kid coming back to get better (or at least they won't look forward to it as much). Give feedback in a supportive, calm tone.
Secondly, mix in positive feedback. A strong tool for conditioning is reinforcing what should be continued, not just criticizing what has to be fixed. An athlete is also likely to be more receptive to critical feedback when they're also feeling supported by their coach.
Traps for parents
A paradox exists for parents: they want so badly for their children to succeed and be high achievers, but they are their own worst enemy. They inhibit their performance through a few different ways
They wear the coaching hat too often. Your kid has a coach already, hopefully one you trust. Having a robust support system is important, but the system breaks down when role confusion occurs. Youth athletes need a parent and coach to thrive in their respective roles. While some overlap may occur, parents should parent first and coach second.
Parents who think they know what's best for their youth athletes sometimes are the main culprits for driving them away from the sport. By being overly controlling (not giving their kid the freedom to quit or choose anything as it relates to their path) undermines one of the biggest determinants of motivation. Try giving them some options and freedom throughout their career with the understanding that they will feel more motivated and empowered as a result.
While there are some cultural factors that are making it more difficult for youth athletes to stay motivated in sports, there are controllable factors for coaches, parents, and even the athletes themselves to help buoy motivation and enjoyment. Focusing on a mix of positive and negative feedback, giving some control to the athlete, and preventing role confusion are all thing to keep in mind.
References
Back, J., Johnson, U., Svedberg, P., McCall, A., & Ivarsson, A. (2022). Drop-out from Team Sport Among Adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 61, 102205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102205
S.M. Balish, C. McLaren, D. Rainham, C. BlanchardCorrelates of youth sport attrition: A review and future directionsPsychology of Sport and Exercise, 15 (4) (2014), pp. 429-439, 10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.04.003
K. Keathley, M.J. Himelein, G. Srigley Youth soccer participation and withdrawal: Gender similarities and differences. Journal of Sport Behavior, 36 (2) (2013), pp. 171-188
