Get Your Head in the Game: An exploration of football's complex relationship with mental health

Football is more than just a sport; it reveals emotion in the extreme, from the glory of goals to the pressure of expectation and defeat. This book explores the lost connection between the sport and the mind, featuring contributions from internationally renowned players and voices from top clubs. It also reveals personal battles on and off the pitch, touching on anxiety, depression, discrimination, trauma, identity, and recovery.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 264 pages
\n Publication date: 08 December 2020
\n Publisher: Watkins Media
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Football is a captivating sport that transcends the boundaries of mere athleticism, unveiling a profound tapestry of emotions. The hallowed pitch becomes a stage where the euphoria of goals, the tumultuous ride of club loyalty, and the crushing weight of expectations converge, creating an exhilarating spectacle that captivates fans, players, managers, coaches, and even those new to the sport. However, beneath the surface of this captivating drama lies a concerning reality—the silent contemplation of players at the peak of their physical fitness taking their own lives, or the derailment of careers due to poor mental health. In an effort to unravel this lost connection between the sport and the mind, Dominic Stevenson, a writer, player, coach, and lifelong football enthusiast, embarks on a captivating journey. Through intimate interviews with a diverse cross-section of characters within the football world, Stevenson seeks to understand the intricacies that underpin this disconnect. This book serves as a testament to the power of storytelling, featuring contributions from internationally renowned players such as Sam Hutchinson, Chris Kirkland, Ella Masar, John Harkes, and Iffy Onoura. The narratives span from the hallowed grounds of top clubs like Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and DC United, to the untold stories of smaller clubs and unsung heroes behind the scenes. Stevenson delves into the personal battles fought both on and off the pitch, touching upon themes of anxiety, depression, discrimination, trauma, identity, and recovery. His poignant insights and captivating anecdotes shed light on the profound impact that football can have on individuals, offering a deeper understanding of the complexities that shape the world of sports and beyond.

\n Weight: 290g\n
Dimension: 217 x 215 x 29 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781786784353\n
Edition number: 0 New edition\n