Dropout and burnout are key issues in youth sports (1-5). However, evidence-based data on this topic is still scarce in literature, and it is important to be aware of its limitations before assuming any unique and conclusive interpretations about the development of young athletes through sports expertise. Talent development programs in youth sports have been designed, structured, and financed by clubs and governmental bodies to promote conditions for young athletes to achieve high levels of performance, often as early as possible (6, 7). It is generally assumed that early engagement and accumulation of deliberate practice supervised by specialized coaches will improve the development of skills and competencies beyond the effects of normal growth and development needed to perform in high-level competitions (8-10). These programs are mostly based on systematic long-term specific training (e.g., deliberate practice) for athletes to perform in high-level competitions during adulthood (9, 11, 12). Inherent to this model, the attempt to predict potential talented athletes may occur at earlier ages, making the specialization in a single sport a consequent strategy in the practical field. It is assumed that the sooner individuals engage in focused practice, the larger will be the advantage in comparison with others (9, 13-15). The main counterview to this approach is the Developmental Model of Sports Participation, which advocates participation in a range of sports with the purpose of fun and enjoyment, instead of focusing on dedication and skill acquisition in one sport (16). The model assumes that early specialization may be the reason for many negative issues related to the sports environment, such as an increasing risk of injuries, lack of enjoyment, negative psychosocial effects, and the occurrence of burnout or dropout (3, 16-18), even though the definition of specialization is often unclear (19-21). The main purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the limits of the available data and interpretations of dropout and burnout in youth sports, particularly considering the contexts of talent development.
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