ABSTRACT
Issues that play crucial roles and negatively influence the development of youth athletes are often indicated by the inappropriate and unrealistic demands and expectations to which these young athletes are exposed. These interacting factors of young athletes' developmental courses can result in extreme stress for youth athletes. However, stressors alone are not the only reasons why underrecovery, overtraining, and burnout are developed; it depends on how athletes and their environment perceive and react to them. This chapter describes the importance of the interplay between the above-mentioned stressors and recovery as they relate to the development of underrecovery, overtraining, and burnout syndromes. Optimal performance is only achievable if athletes recover appropriately after training and competition, and optimally balance stress with adequate recovery. A good athlete–coach relationship seems to have a preventive effect when the athlete can talk about stressors, disturbances during recovery periods, or other problems that occur during or outside of practice.
