LIFESTYLE NEWS - Sport offers children and teenagers valuable opportunities to build confidence, discipline, friendships and resilience. However, as school sport in South Africa becomes increasingly competitive, mental health experts are warning that the pressure to win can come at a psychological cost.
The South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop) says young athletes need support to navigate the expectations that accompany high-performance sport, particularly when selection, scholarships, provincial representation and future career opportunities become tied to their sporting success.
Dr Bonginkosi Mafuze, a psychiatrist and head of Sasop’s Sports and Exercise Psychiatry Special Interest Group, says children are increasingly exposed to intense training schedules and performance expectations while they are still developing emotionally and psychologically.
“Sport is generally protective for young people. It promotes physical health, social connectedness, discipline, resilience and improved mental wellbeing. The concern is not sport itself. The concern is what happens when winning becomes everything,” says Dr Mafuze.
Pressure from parents, coaches, schools and teammates can turn an activity that should be enjoyable into a source of persistent stress. Social media exposure can add another layer of scrutiny, particularly for young athletes who feel they must constantly prove themselves.
The danger, he explains, is that children may begin to measure their worth by their sporting achievements rather than seeing sport as one part of their lives.
“When a young person's sense of self becomes dependent on achievement, failure can feel catastrophic. Being dropped from a team, missing selection or suffering an injury can become much more than a sporting setback. It can feel like a personal crisis,” he says.
When the pressure becomes too much
Young athletes must often juggle demanding training schedules with schoolwork, relationships, injuries and concerns about their sporting futures. Even those who appear confident and successful may privately struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, emotional exhaustion or fear of failure.
Dr Mafuze warns that some young people may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including substance use, when they lack the support or skills to manage stress and disappointment.
Alcohol may be used to unwind after intense pressure, while cannabis, nicotine or vaping products may be used in an attempt to manage anxiety or cope with expectations. Rather than resolving the underlying distress, these behaviours can create further problems.
He encourages parents, coaches and healthcare professionals to look beyond the behaviour itself and consider what may be driving it, whether it is difficulty switching off after competition, sleeping problems, pressure to fit into a team or fear of letting others down.
The psychological impact of injury also deserves attention.
An injured athlete may lose access to training, competition and daily contact with teammates, along with an important source of identity and belonging. Similar challenges can arise when a young person is not selected for a team, experiences a loss of form or decides to leave competitive sport.
Recognising when a young athlete needs help
Mental health difficulties are not always easy to identify in young athletes. Sporting cultures often celebrate toughness, persistence and the ability to push through discomfort, potentially making children reluctant to admit when they are struggling.
According to Dr Mafuze, warning signs that a young athlete may need support include:
Increasing anxiety or dread before training or competitions.
Heightened distress following an injury or selection setback.
Persistent irritability or changes in mood.
A decline in functioning at school or at home.
Changes in sleeping or eating habits.
Withdrawal from friends or activities, or losing enjoyment in a previously loved sport.
Excessive training despite illness or injury.
Regular conversations about emotional wellbeing can help parents and coaches identify concerns before they escalate. Where necessary, young athletes should have access to appropriate mental health assessments and professional support.
Putting wellbeing before the scoreboard
Protecting young athletes does not mean discouraging competition or ambition. Instead, Sasop advocates for sporting environments that value personal growth and psychological wellbeing alongside performance.
Parents and coaches can help by encouraging children to learn from mistakes, treating setbacks as part of development and recognising effort rather than focusing exclusively on results. They should also avoid placing excessive pressure on young athletes or allowing sporting achievements to become the main measure of a child's value.
Schools and sporting organisations have a role to play by normalising conversations about stress, anxiety and burnout, providing access to confidential support, and offering additional assistance during injury rehabilitation, non-selection and transitions out of competitive sport.
“Sport remains one of the best investments we can make in young people. The challenge is ensuring that the environments around sport support wellbeing as much as performance,” says Dr Mafuze.
Young athletes need to know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness and that their worth extends beyond their results on the field.
“We often ask whether our young athletes are strong enough to handle the pressure placed on them. Perhaps the better question is whether we are doing enough to help them carry it,” he concludes.
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