Editor's note: This story is part of a series, State of Play, that examines the variety of challenges facing youth sports and, in some cases, possible solutions.
(WBBM NEWSRADIO) --It is supposed to be fun and games, but more children than ever are suffering mentally on the courts and playing fields.
Doctors are seeing more young athletes reach a mental breaking point. Dr. Holly Benjamin is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine at the University of Chicago.
"In some ways, we're starting to recognize that there could be a crisis-particularly a mental health crisis in our youth athletes," she said.
"We're super concerned about the pressures that kids have in their life and in their sports and we're starting to recognize that it's not all positive that go into the whole identity of we' being an athlete."
Even smart, hard-working and goal-oriented young athletes can overthink and feel stress.
"There's kind of a gray zone where the relationship of the athlete to their sport crosses over negatively where their identity becomes part of the sport participation," Benjamin explained.
She added that when children "only feel good as being seen as a successful athlete" is when the negative effects of participating in sports starts.
Dr. Benjamin urges adults to watch for "clear signs of mental stress" like kids not enjoying their sport, not wanting to go to practice, or worrying about their performance.
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