News

The recent men’s domestic cricket structure review is the latest in a series of fixture list announcements from across sport which is currently failing to protect player welfare or listen to their concerns.  This week is World Mental Health Day and whilst the support offered by Player Associations in this area is no doubt world leading, the ever increasing demands on professional sportspeople is having a serious impact on their wellbeing. 

A PCA survey ahead of the 2025 season revealed that 67% of players are concerned about their mental wellbeing due to the current schedule with an overwhelming feeling that the structure needs to change to support the working conditions of modern-day cricketers.

PCA CEO Daryl Mitchell said:

“At the start of the process, there was a consensus from all that the structure is not fit for purpose and change needed to happen, so after a thorough and lengthy process where player views were considered, to remain with the status quo for the County Championship is a concerning decision.”

Meanwhile in Football, the new FIFPRO player workload report outlines continuing threats to player health and performance with Dr. Darren Burgess, chair of FIFPRO's High-Performance Advisory Network  emphasising that younger players need age-appropriate training loads, clear match exposure limits, and protected rest periods and that “the psychological toll should also not be underestimated."

Maheta Molango, PFA Chief Executive and FIFPRO board member said:

 "This report gives you the factual evidence of what is happening in football. Players are either getting injured or not being able to perform at their best because they are pushed to their limit."

In horseracing, the 2026 fixture list will, once again, see racing taking place on 362 days of the year, and with Flat and Jump racing taking place all year round, there is no seasonal break as in other sports.

Jump jockeys get a six day break at the end of the Jumps season in April and a further 19 day break in August.  Flat jockeys have to make do with an eight day break in November, though jockeys with more than 30 winners get an additional five day break in February and three additional days appended to the November break.

Paul Struthers, CEO of the Professional Jockeys Association, said “The physical and mental exhaustion of servicing a year-round fixture list has taken it’s toll on jockeys for many years, but it’s getting worse.  Staff shortages in training yards and increasing numbers of evening fixtures year-round result in exceptionally long hours for jockeys in addition to little time off.  With a decreasing population of jockeys as more quit to ride overseas or transition to a different career, it just isn’t sustainable.”