Cold spell could lead to burn out

15Jan/100

In an unprecedented week of weather, there appears to have been little sport on the fields and courts of Limerick and Ireland. The cold snap, which has seen temperatures slump to as low as -12 degC, has seen a backlog of fixtures pile up for all sports. With pitches frozen to depths of over 30cm, the thaw might take longer than expected. All rugby games were called off last weekend as were all Junior soccer and GAA fixtures too. Indeed it was funny to notice the lightness of the Sunday papers as there was little to report. Even talk radio shows had to resort to playing music as sporting events, unlike the snow, were light on the ground.
The questions facing clubs and their hard working and frozen groundsmen now, is when and where are they going to get these games played. With hundreds of sports’ seasons now in full flight, the problem now appears that some players might get burnt out, after such a freeze.
The main aim for athletes now is to ease themselves back into action. Granted, we all feel like getting back in the full swing of things, but doing too much too soon might just have us all back on the couches again.
With games and training so badly needed, the most vulnerable people are kids. Most kids these days play several sports. The problem of mixing and matching is always there for players and parents alike. Now though, with everyone backed up, the fear is that too much will be asked of some. There are symptoms to look out for, such as Chronic muscle and joint pain, Weight loss and loss of appetite, Increased heart rate at rest, Decreased sports performance, Fatigue, Prolonged recovery time, Lack of enthusiasm, Frequent illnesses, Difficulty completing usual routines, Decreased school performance, Personality or mood changes, Increased anger or irritability and Sleep disturbances. The only treatment for burnout is rest.
So, when the pitches thaw and the gear is on again, make sure you are aware of your fitness level after the break and make sure to build back up to a healthy level.
We need you all in the future.