t is really necessary for them to do so. It is ironic that most athletes do not wait to terminate their careers until they reach an advanced age. Instead, they "are usually in the prime of their life, in their teens and twenties, rather than in their sixties" (Werthner & Orlick, 1983, p. 188).
Anxiety, stress and burnout can all be listed as potential causes for the termination of a sport career. It is interesting to note that these psychological conditions are interrelated. Thus, anxiety over one's performance level can lead to stress. In turn, prolonged stress will result in burnout. When the athlete reaches the point of burnout, he or she experiences a very serious problem in terms of motivation. Burnout has both physical and psychological effects. The athlete suffers from chronic fatigue and also begins "to feel emotionally depleted" (Smith, 1989, p. 187). These factors can contribute strongly to the decision to terminate a career. As noted by Smith, "the behavioral consequences of burnout involve a decreased level of efficiency and a psychological if not physical withdrawal from the activity" (p. 188). Feelings of stress and frustration can also cause termination because athletes dealing with them may end up "as broken men on alcohol or drugs" (Butt, 1987, p. 122).
Other psychological difficulties await the athlete following career termination. These problems are especially notable among elite athletes. Elite athletes are professionals or Olympics stars who have careers involving money, fame, or both. These careers sharpl
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