An In-depth Appraisal of Career Termination Experiences in Professional Cricket

Roberts, Claire-Marie, Mullen, R., Evans, L. and Hall, R.J. (2015) An In-depth Appraisal of Career Termination Experiences in Professional Cricket. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33 (9). pp. 935-944. ISSN Print: 0264-0414 Online: 1466-447X

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Preview	Text roberts et al 2015 final cricket pdf proof.pdf - Accepted Version Download (386kB) | Preview

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the career termination experiences of 9 male, retired professional cricketers, between the ages of 28 to 40 (M = 34, SD = 4.65). The participants took part in retrospective, semi-structured interviews. Data from the interviews were inductively content analysed within three transition phases of the retirement process: reasons for retirement, factors affecting adaptation, and reactions to retirement. The reasons for retirement were multicausal with the majority of the participants highlighting contractual pressures and a lack of communication as important precursors to retirement. Three main themes accounted for the factors affecting adaptation: a limited pursuit of other interests, developmental experiences and coping strategies. In terms of reactions to retirement, all of the participants reflected negatively on the termination of their career, with a sense of loss and resentment characterising the post-retirement period. The findings illustrated the sport-specific nature of career termination in professional cricket, and added further support to the emerging consensus that the distinction between voluntary and involuntary retirement is, at best, unclear.

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