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An in-depth appraisal of career termination experiences in professional cricket

Roberts, Claire Marie; Mullen, Richard; Evans, Lynne; Hall, Ross

Authors

Richard Mullen

Lynne Evans

Ross Hall



Abstract

© 2014 Taylor & Francis. Abstract: This qualitative study explored the career termination experiences of 9 male, retired professional cricketers between the ages of 28 and 40 (mean value34, s=4.65 m). 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.

Citation

Roberts, C. M., Mullen, R., Evans, L., & Hall, R. (2015). An in-depth appraisal of career termination experiences in professional cricket. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33(9), 935-944. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.977936

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 1, 2015
Online Publication Date Jan 2, 2015
Publication Date Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date Sep 8, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Sports Sciences
Print ISSN 0264-0414
Electronic ISSN 1466-447X
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 33
Issue 9
Pages 935-944
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.977936
Keywords retirement, cricket, transitions, antecedents, life satisfaction
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/839760
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.977936