| Founded | 1 September 2000 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Tony Adams |
| Location |
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| Website | www |
Sporting Chance (sometimes referred to by its original name, Sporting Chance Clinic) is a registered UK based charity.
Set up by former Arsenal and England football captain Tony Adams, Sporting Chance provides support to current and former professional athletes for a wide variety of mental and emotional health problems.
Formed in September 2000, the charity provides support to current and retired athletes with the tools of education and training, one to one counselling (for any emotional or mental health issue) in the residential clinic set up specifically to treat addictive disorders.
On 27 September 2013, it was announced that former CEO Peter Kay had died aged 52.[1][2][3]
Sporting Chance offers access to a national network of therapists and counsellors, all are vetted as to their qualification, specialism, place of practice, that they are suitably insured, that they maintain personal supervision and of course, their geography. Sporting Chance’s diligence process mirrors that of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and the UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy). This service can be accessed through a stakeholder referral or directly via a 24-hour telephone line. This service delivers talking therapy and treatment solutions to a wide range of mental and emotional health presentations. Over a thousand current and retired professional athletes will use this service each year.
Sporting Chance provides the only residential treatment facility in the world for the treatment of addictive disorders exclusively working with professional athletes, based at Forest Mere Country Club near Liphook, Hampshire. The treatment models are suitable for those presenting alcohol, substance and gambling problems, which are considered symptoms of an addictive disorder. There are 3 treatment programs delivered over different time spans, these are 5, 12 and 26 days. All are fully residential and tailored to an athlete, providing facilities and activities to enable any athlete to maintain the level of physical fitness they require to compete. The system is based on the twelve-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The aim is to provide a safe environment where the addict can begin a new life free from the drug or behavior pattern that has been damaging them, their families and their sporting life. The philosophy is based on Adams's own experiences of his requirements as an athlete in his own recovery from alcoholism.
The charity is engaged in delivering educational seminars and workshops focused on mental health and wellbeing within the realm of sports. These educational initiatives are directed towards a diverse range of participants, including athletes, personnel who work closely with athletes, and individuals associated with sports leagues and governing bodies. The charity emphasizes the customization of its content to cater to the specific needs of its audience, taking into consideration factors such as the particular sport involved, the age group of participants, their roles within the sport, and any unique learning challenges present within the group. Topics covered in these seminars and workshops encompass a variety of subjects relevant to athletes' mental health. These include general mental wellbeing in sports, strategies for transition periods in an athlete's career, building emotional resilience, understanding the effects
The patrons include ex-Sports Minister Kate Hoey, former professional footballer Lee Dixon, Tony Smith, Irish Jockey Sir A.P McCoy, athlete Dame Kelly Holmes and musician Sir Elton John.
The clinic is supported by various sporting bodies and institutions including the Professional Footballers' Association, The Premier League, The Football Association, The Professional Cricketers' Association, Rugby League Cares, The Professional Jockeys Association.