Athletic trainer Adam Annaccone of the University of Texas at Arlington warns that more training is not always better for young athletes. Writing for The Conversation, Annaccone outlines key indicators that a child's sports schedule may be excessive, emphasizing the importance of rest, recovery, and monitoring for signs of burnout or injury.
Annaccone suggests parents and coaches watch for persistent fatigue, declining performance, loss of enthusiasm, and frequent minor injuries as red flags. He recommends building in regular off-seasons, limiting weekly training hours to age-appropriate levels, and ensuring children have time for unstructured play and other interests.
The article, published on November 6, 2026, aims to help families balance athletic development with long-term health and enjoyment of sport.
