A Hot Take: Single-Sport vs. Team-Sport Athletes and Their Mental Health Struggles
It’s a tale as old as time: Which kind of sport is more taxing—single or team? Athletes, coaches, and sports psychologists have debated it for years, but the truth is, both come with their own unique mental challenges. A single-sport athlete carries the weight of performance alone, while a team-sport athlete navigates the pressure of group dynamics and shared responsibility. The mental battles look different, but the impact on well-being is just as real for both.
Let’s talk about the mental health game—because if you’re an athlete, you know the pressure isn’t just physical. Whether you’re grinding solo in an individual sport or battling it out with a team, the mental load hits differently. And as a therapist who’s worked with both, I see the patterns, the struggles, and the unique mental roadblocks that come with each.
The Solo Grind: Single-Sport Athletes and the Weight of Self-Reliance
If you’re a single-sport athlete—think swimmers, wrestlers, track and field competitors wrestlers, golfers, tennis players—you already know. It’s all on you. There’s no passing the ball, no teammate to cover your mistake, no collective win to cushion a rough day. And that’s a heavy mental load.
What does this mean for mental health?
Pressure is personal. Every mistake, every bad performance, every missed opportunity? It’s yours to own. This can lead to high self-criticism, perfectionism, and an internal dialogue that’s brutal and relentless.
Isolation hits differently. Training solo means celebrating wins alone but also dealing with failures in silence. Without a built-in support system, loneliness and burnout can creep in fast.
Identity gets wrapped up in performance. When you’re the sole competitor, success and failure feel like direct reflections of your worth. If you’re not performing well, who even are you?
Fear of failure in sports can become overwhelming, leading to performance anxiety that affects both training and competition.
The Team Dynamic: Strength in Numbers or Mental Strain in Disguise?
Team sport athletes—football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball—have the benefit of teammates, a built-in support system. But don’t think that means it’s an easier mental ride. Team sports bring their own unique challenges.
What does this mean for mental health?
The comparison game is brutal. There’s always someone better, faster, stronger, or getting more playing time. If self-worth is tied to external validation, the mental toll can be heavy.
Pressure comes from all sides. Teammates, coaches, fans, family—expectations aren’t just internal; they come from every direction. Letting yourself down is one thing, but feeling like you let the whole team down? That can be crushing.
Struggles can get overlooked. In a team setting, it’s easy to blend in and mask struggles. If you’re mentally drowning, but the team is thriving, speaking up can feel really intimidating.
Perfectionism in sports often surfaces, leading athletes to push beyond their limits, sometimes at the cost of their mental and physical well-being.
The Takeaway: Different Struggles, Same Need for Support
Whether you’re competing solo or with a team, mental health is an important part in training. The pressure is real, the struggles are valid, and ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. Single-sport athletes may need to build stronger support networks, while team-sport athletes may need to carve out space for individual identity outside of the group.
Supporting yourself starts with awareness and open conversations. Encouraging mental resilience, setting realistic expectations, and prioritizing well-being over performance are essential in breaking the stigma around mental health in sports.
Regardless of which category you fall into, the key takeaway is this: You are not your performance. You are not just an athlete. And your mental health is just as important as your physical game.
