Table 1.

Terminology from position statement on overtraining by European College of Sport Science.³⁰

Term	Synonym	Definition	Performance Decrement	Outcome
Functional overreaching	Short-term overreaching	Increased training leading to a temporary performance decrement and with improved performance after rest	Days to weeks	Positive (super- compensation)
Nonfunctional overreaching	Long-term overreaching	Intense training leading to a longer performance decrement but with full recovery after rest; accompanied by increased psychologic and/or neuroendocrinologic symptoms	Weeks to months	Negative due to symptoms and loss of training time
Overtraining syndrome		Consistent with extreme nonfunctional overreaching but with (1) longer performance decrement (> 2 months), (2) more severe symptomatology and maladapted physiology (psychologic, neurologic, endocrinologic, immunologic systems), (3) and an additional stressor not explained by other disease	Months	Negative due to symptoms and possible end to athletic career