Professional sport
Exploring the impact of the player mental fitness workshops delivered as part of the Rugby League World Cup 2021
Project team
About the project
The project is being led by researchers at Edge Hill University in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity, colleagues at the University of Wollongong (Dr Stewart Vella) and is being conducted as part of the longstanding partnership between the University and Movember. The research will explore the impact of the Player Mental Fitness Workshops delivered as part of the Rugby League Cup 2021 among a sample of participants, workshop facilitators/delivery staff, and staff from Rugby League Cares and Rugby League World Cup 2021. The programme, which was first developed based on knowledge gained from the community sport and mental health programmes Offload and Ahead of the Game (evaluated previously by Edge Hill University). Until now, the workshops have not previously been delivered as part of a Mental Fitness Charter associated with a Rugby League World Cup, so this study will be exploratory. The findings of this project are intended to be reported to Movember and wider audiences, including Rugby League Cares and other relevant organisations, to contribute to their agenda of improving mental health and wellbeing.
Project partners: University of Wollongong, Movember
Exploring the mental health and wellbeing of youth academy rugby league players
Project team
About the project
The project is part of the PhD in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity and is being conducted in the partnership between the university and Rugby League Cares. The research will explore the impact of mental health and wellbeing on youth academy players. Rugby League Cares has a focus in the promotion of mental health in rugby players and this project also aims to understand the beliefs and thoughts of the individuals (for example, Heads of Youth and Welfare Officers) working to promote mental health and wellbeing. The findings of this project are intended to be reported to Rugby League Cares and wider audiences and other relevant organisations to contribute to their agenda of improving mental health and wellbeing.
Exploring the Mental Health of Athletes and their Families
Project lead
Project team
About the project
This programme of work explores the mental health of athletes and their families, with a particular focus on athletes’ partners. This is an area which has been rarely studied in the sociology of sports work and explores the significance of the blurring between athletes’ working and personal lives for their mental health, and that of their families. It sheds light on the unmet support mental health support needs of athletes and their families, and reflects upon the duty of care responsibilities sporting organisations have for their employees.
Mental Health, Coaching and Workforce Development
Project lead
Project team
About the project
This programme of work explores the mental health of sports workers across all levels of the sport, physical activity and movement ecosystems. It includes an emphasis on the mental health literacy of workers, their lived experiences of mental health and mental illness, and the mental health support provided by employers. The workforce development needs, and opportunities for professional development to promote mental health, are also examined for various groups. These include sports coaches, athletes, support staff, administrators, volunteers, and senior managers.