"Overtraining Athletes: Personal Journeys in Sport" seeks to
communicate the complex subject of overtraining to help athletes,
coaches, parents, and sport science professionals understand the
dangers of overtraining and take steps toward prevention. Using
history and research, current experts' perspectives, and athletes'
personal experiences, "Overtraining Athletes" identifies forces
that push athletes to overtrain by sharing the struggles of those
athletes and the sport professionals who seek to help them.
The text employs a nonlinear structure, allowing the flexibility
to sample chapters from each of its four parts based on interest
and level of knowledge about the topic. By presenting the
phenomenon of overtraining from a variety of perspectives and with
varying degrees of technicality, the book engages a wide range of
readers while presenting significant research and studies in the
area. Each of the four parts of the text displays a distinct method
for discovering how overtraining affects athletes, coaches,
parents, and professionals.
Part I begins with a review of research examining aspects of
overtraining, including prevalence, physiological and psychological
manifestations, and outcomes. It concludes by discussing risk
factors that increase the probability of overtraining. In part II
coaches' and sport scientists' views on overtraining risk factors
are presented. The authors interviewed 14 experts from major sport
organizations in Australia to glean their perspectives on the
possible variables associated with overtraining. With the
perspectives of these experts, readers may identify the
characteristics, behaviors, and experiences of susceptible
athletes, as well as the situations, factors, sport cultures, and
people that both pressure athletes to increase their training and
affect athletes' needs for recovery.
In part III the focus turns to the experiences of the athletes.
Drawing on interviews from 13 athletes with identified histories of
chronic overtraining, the authors present three aggregate case
studies:
-A professional footballer influenced by economic forces,
internalized cliched slogans, tough sport cultures, and traditional
abusive practices
-A triathlete obsessed with the pursuit of the Olympic gold
-A young gymnast-turned-cyclist pressured by abusive coaches and
an overinvolved parentThese three narratives, in addition to a
description of Richardson's own overtraining experience, create a
rich, detailed account of athletes' struggles with overtraining.
Part III concludes with observations and reflections on these four
overtraining narratives to further explain how readers can learn
from these athletes.
In part IV, the authors introduce a comprehensive model of
overtraining risks and outcomes. This model is examined in relation
to other overtraining models, thus accentuating its importance as a
useful, fluid tool for identifying athletes who might be at risk as
well as environments and cultures that increase vulnerability to
overtraining. Part IV concludes with a discussion of future
directions for research and professional practice and suggestions
for further study. "Overtraining Athletes" uncovers both the
personal and interpersonal struggles encountered by athletes who
overtrain. Its qualitative focus, current research, and future
directions encourage readers to learn about the topic and take
action in the treatment and prevention of overtraining. The authors
hope the book will also encourage others to tell their stories,
gather new data, and continue to unravel the question of why
athletes become damaged through their participation in sport.
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