As fall sports gear up, thousands of once-eager young athletes are dropping out before they start. I don't want to play anymore. First, realize you're not alone. Some switch to other sports, some pursue other interests, and some just burn out. Researchers have been trying to devise a scientific way to predict which children will drop out, when they're most likely to do it and why.
People burn out in different ways.
As a parent, there are some specific strategies you can employ to help your child decide whether and when to quit a sport. Megan's mom saw the burnout coming. She didn't want to wait until her daughter got stomachaches or started crying like other stressed-out figure skaters. After six months of soul-searching, the family decided Megan would be better off quitting. Megan always tried her best.