Youth Sports Burnout: What Alyssa Liu’s Comeback Teaches Parents and Coaches
Youth sports burnout is becoming more common — and more serious — than many parents realize.
If there’s one Olympic story that highlights this reality, it’s the comeback of Alyssa Liu.
From a very young age, she was considered one of the brightest stars in American figure skating. Many believed she would be the next great champion for Team USA.
But at just 16 years old, she stepped away from the sport after her first Olympic Games.
Why would a young athlete at the top of her sport walk away with so much potential still ahead of her?
She was young. She had years ahead of her. There seemed to be no limits to what she could achieve.
The answer: athlete burnout.
What Is Youth Sports Burnout?
Youth sports burnout happens when the physical, emotional, and mental demands of sport outweigh the athlete’s ability to recover and enjoy the game.
In Alyssa Liu’s case, she later shared that the joy of skating was gone.
She had been training constantly. Living under intense pressure. Surrounded by expectations. Told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.
There was little time to:
Be a kid
Spend time with friends
Rest mentally
Feel ownership over her sport
While her experience played out on the Olympic stage, mental burnout in sports is happening every day at the youth level.
Signs of Burnout in Young Athletes
As a mental performance coach, I see this pattern often.
Athletes bounce between:
Team practices
Private lessons
Strength and conditioning sessions
Tournaments and travel
Add in school, homework, and family responsibilities — and there is very little margin left.
What once brought joy begins to feel like a job.
Common signs of burnout in athletes include:
Dreading practices or games
Increased irritability
Decreased performance
Emotional exhaustion
Loss of confidence
Saying “I just don’t feel like myself”
This isn’t laziness.
It isn’t lack of talent.
It’s mental overload.
When the mental load becomes too heavy, performance suffers — even in highly talented athletes.
The Powerful Part of Alyssa Liu’s Story
The incredible part of Alyssa Liu’s journey is that she eventually returned to figure skating — but this time on her terms.
And you could see the difference.
There was freedom in her performances. Lightness. Joy.
Her comeback is proof that athletes perform at their best when they are mentally healthy and genuinely enjoying their sport.
Even at the highest level.
How to Prevent Burnout in Youth Sports
If you’re a parent or coach, the question becomes:
How do we protect young athletes from burnout?
1. Prioritize Mental Health in Young Athletes
Mental recovery is just as important as physical recovery.
Build in true days off.
Protect family time.
Encourage activities outside of sport.
Rest is not falling behind — it’s a performance strategy.
2. Focus on Process Over Results
When the focus is only on rankings, stats, and scholarships, pressure skyrockets.
Instead:
Celebrate growth
Reinforce effort
Highlight improvement
Athletes who love the process stay in the game longer — and ultimately perform better.
3. Create Space for Joy
Joy and excellence are not opposites. They fuel each other.
Add creative drills.
Let them play.
Allow appropriate risk-taking.
Don’t correct every mistake immediately.
The goal is development — not perfection.
Why Youth Sports Should Build, Not Break
Sports are meant to build confidence, resilience, discipline, and leadership.
They provide structure. Community. Growth.
But when burnout takes hold, sport shifts from being a benefit to becoming a burden.
And that’s when young athletes walk away — not because they aren’t capable, but because they’re exhausted.
If you believe your athlete may be experiencing youth sports burnout, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
At Pina Performance Coaching, we help athletes:
Manage pressure
Reduce stress
Rebuild confidence
Rediscover joy in their sport
When mental skills are trained intentionally, athletes don’t just perform better — they enjoy competing again.
If you're ready to help your athlete thrive mentally and emotionally, schedule a consultation today.