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

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

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., 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
• 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