This figure is essentially a flowchart with five boxes within which are questions advising the user based on either no (‘overtraining syndrome not likely’) or yes answers (‘overtraining syndrome is likely’) and accompanying outcomes in brackets. The following questions are asked with any yes answers gradually pointing more and more towards the associated ‘overtraining syndrome is likely’ final outcome.

• BOX 1 - Are you training >4 times per week? Yes/no
• BOX 2 - Unexplainable performance drop? Yes/no
• BOX 3 - Persistent fatigue/exhaustion > 4 weeks? Yes/no
• BOX 4 - Performance and training (one ‘yes’ is sufficient to proceed ‘downwards’ in figure towards overtraining diagnosis) Maximum performance reduced (>10%)? Yes/no; Drop in aerobic performance? Yes/no; Reduced training volume (>20%)? Yes/no; Deteriorated recovery? Yes/no
• BOX 5 - Supporting evidence (‘yes’ provides some supporting evidence, ‘no’ does not impact diagnosis) Viral diseases? Yes/no; Burdening [life] psychosocial factors? Yes/no; Unfamiliar environmental conditions (heat, cold, altitude)? Yes/no; Significant increase in training load? Yes/no