ALLGEMEINER SUPPORT » on Friday night for hit-by-pitch-rel

LONDON - One in four professional footballers said they suffer symptoms of anxiety and depression in a new study into the sports largely unexplored "dark side" of mental illness. The mental health of recently retired professional footballers was even more worrisome, with one in three reporting signs of anxiety and depression. Some 300 current and former professionals — from the Netherlands, Major League Soccer, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand — took part in the study for the players union, FIFPro. While football can draw on reams of scientific study about players physical injuries, little research has previously been done into their mental health, and mental health problems have remained very much taboo in the sport, FIFPro chief medical officer Vincent Gouttebarge said. "There is definitely some dark side of professional football," he said in an interview. "We dont talk about mental health issues in football, or we didnt talk about this issue," he added. "Its quite a macho culture so people do not talk about it." Gouttebarge said the studys findings suggest that professional footballers are no less prone to mental illness than other younger people in the general population. He said that might surprise fans who believe footballers live comfortable, worry-free lives, with media attention often focusing on the wealth of the most successful players. "Contrary to what people think, professional footballers experience psychological problems just like other groups in the population," Gouttebarge said. Among the 180 active footballers who responded to the lengthy questionnaire, 10 per cent reported symptoms of distress, five per cent reported signs of burnout and three per cent said they suffered from low self-esteem. Nearly 20 per cent reported problems with alcohol, which Gouttebarge said could include binge drinking and regularly drinking too much, and seven per cent said they smoked. The 121 former professionals who responded on average had 12-year playing careers and have been retired for five years. Fifteen per cent showed signs of burnout and 18 per cent signs of distress. One in three reported drinking problems, 12 per cent smoked, and 39 per cent reported suffering from depression and anxiety. Gouttebarge said that could include worrying, mood swings, difficulties sleeping, feeling stressed, not being sociable or a combination of symptoms. "Mental illness seems to occur among former professional footballers more often than in current players, and more often than in other populations. Consequently, mental illness among former professional footballers cannot be underestimated and should be a subject of interest for all stakeholders in football," the study said. Retirement was "really a critical period," with players abruptly losing the structure of regular training and the support of being in a club, Gouttebarge said. "You have to find a new life," he said. "It can put you under a lot of stress." Long-term injuries and surgeries that take players out of the game and away from close, regular contact with teammates can also be factors in mental health problems. Being forced to stop playing professionally because of injury or because clubs wont offer another contract can be particularly hard to cope with, Gouttebarge noted. "This has been recognized in other sports as a huge cause of mental health issues," he said. "The guy who is willing to retire or to stop his career is really (in) a different kind of situation to the one who is forced to retire." He called the study "a good first step" toward identifying the scope of mental health issues in football. The survey is expanding to players in France and from French-speaking nations in Africa, with plans to also study players in Spanish-speaking countries and Japan, Gouttebarge said. Alec Burks Jersey . - Dominika Cibulkova erased three match points in the second set Wednesday and beat Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Sony Open. Jonas Jerebko Jersey . Nathan Beaulieu, Tomas Jurco, Danick Gauthier and Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist each as the Sea Dogs extended the longest streak in the Canadian Hockey League this season. http://www.cheapjazzjerseys.info/Authent...-Jazz-Jersey/.Y. - Geno Smith shouted a couple of mighty expensive expletives. Ricky Rubio Jersey .com) - Nicolas Colsaerts fired an 11-under 60 on Thursday and grabbed a 3-stroke lead with the opening round of the Portugal Masters suspended by rain. Pete Maravich Jersey . The motion to expand the stadiums capacity passed through by a count of 39-3, with Toronto mayor Rob Ford being among those in opposition.HOUSTON -- For the first time in a long time, the Houston Astros turned up the music and celebrated a victory in their own clubhouse. Dexter Fowler hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Houstons four-run eighth inning, and the Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Saturday night. It was Houstons first home win since a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on April 6, ending a six-game losing streak at Minute Maid Park. The Astros have won three of their last 13 games overall. Fowler also had a solo homer as Houston snapped a three-game losing streak. Chris Carter connected for a two-run shot in the second. The game was tied at 3 when Fowler drove in Marwin Gonzalez with a base hit against Sean Doolittle (0-2). Jason Castro then singled in Jose Altuve, and Fowler and Castro eventually came home on groundouts. "It was just one of those nights, and thats whats frustrating because I looked at the film and dont have a lot of answers," Doolittle said. "I couldnt get anybody out." Doolittle entered the game having allowed just four runs in his previous 18 1-3 innings, dating to last season. "Every now and then, thats going to happen to everybody," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "But you dont expect that to happen to him." Brandon Moss hit a three-run homer in the Oakland ninth against Jerome Williams (1-1). Nick Punto then singled, but Coco Crisp bounced into a fielders choice and Raul Valdes struck out John Jaso and Jed Lowrie for his first save. Houston ended an eight-game losing streak against Oakland, dating to last season. The Astros also improved to 6-25 against the As overall. The series began with a couple of ugly losses when Houston reliever Paul Clemens was ejected Thursday night and manager Bo Porter was thrown out on Friday night for hit-by-pitch-related incidents. But Porter downplayed any extra satisffaction from the victory.dddddddddddd "Theres nothing extra special about it," Porter said. "Its a team on our schedule, and our goal is to win every game on our schedule." Fowler went deep in the first and Carters two-run shot to left on an 0-1 pitch from Dan Straily gave the Astros a 3-2 lead in the second. Straily struck out seven in 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander allowed four hits and walked two. Straily has allowed at least one home run in each of his first five starts and has allowed seven home runs in 27 innings after allowing just 16 in 152 1-3 innings in 2013. "Eliminate the homers, and Ill be doing just fine," he said. Oakland got to Dallas Keuchel for two runs in the first. Lowrie singled in Crisp, and Derek Norris scored when cleanup hitter Josh Donaldson grounded into a double play. "I just felt lucky to get out of the first with just two runs, especially the way theyve been swinging the bat," Keuchel said. After scoring just seven runs in three games and being swept by the Rangers, the As have scored 28 runs against the Astros in the last three games. The Athletics trailed 3-2 until Crisp drove in Craig Gentry with a sacrifice fly against Williams in the seventh. Keuchel also went 6 1-3 innings for Houston. The lefty was charged with three runs and six hits, struck out six and walked two. NOTES: Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes participated in batting practice and did light individual jogging to test a strained left hamstring. Cespedes left in the seventh inning of Oaklands 10-1 win over Houston on Thursday after legging out an infield single. Melvin said after Saturdays game that Cespedes was doubtful to play on Sunday. ... For just the second time in their last five games, the Astros did not commit an error. They entered the week ranked third in the majors with seven errors but committed eight on Thursday and Friday. Cheap Warriors Jerseys Authentic Cavaliers Jerseys Cheap Spurs Store Celtics Jerseys Online Cheap Bulls Jerseys Cheap Nets Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Wholesale Raptors Jerseys Cyber Monday Pistons Jerseys Wholesale Team USA Basketball Jerseys Cheap Celtics Jerseys Cheap Nets Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Raptors Jerseys From China Cheap Bulls Jerseys Cavaliers Jerseys From China Wholesale Pistons Jerseys Bucks Jerseys From China Pacers Jerseys Outlet Authentic Hawks Jerseys Cheap Hornets Jerseys Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Authentic Wizards Jerseys Cheap Nuggets Jerseys Timberwolves Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Thunder Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Discount Warriors Jerseys Wholesale Clippers Jerseys Wholesale Lakers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Kings Jerseys Discount Mavericks Jerseys Authentic Rockets Jerseys Discount Grizzlies Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Spurs Jerseys From China ' ' '