The central object of this introductory essay, and of this Special Issue more broadly, is to explore relations between the study of work and the continuing evolution of the sociology of sport with a particular focus on the mental health of sports workers. In particular, we argue that revitalizing the study of sports work, and eschewing the highly individualized and reductionist approaches most often demonstrated by dominating quantitative and psychological approaches, is essential if we are to understand more adequately the complex interdependencies which characterize the lives of sports workers and have often profound impacts on health and wellbeing. We also argue that there has been a relative neglect – until recently – among sociologists of sport to systematically research the benefits and costs to mental health of sports work, and that there is much to be gained from broader sociological investigations of work in pursuing this research agenda. In doing so, we examine: (i) social trends in work and employment; (ii) work and labour as key areas of sociological investigation; and (iii) the implications of work and sport for mental health. Before we consider these issues, however, it is worth noting that here sports workers include employees of the sports industry, and people for whom a key element of the job is the production, or support for the production, of ‘sport’ at all levels of performance. Sports workers may also be people who ‘work’ for sports organizations voluntarily and receive (however ill-defined) a psychic rather than economic remuneration. As with all other forms of work, people employed in the sports industry work not only to make a living but also to acquire self-respect, to fulfill a desire, and achieve self-actualization. These types of sports workers are variously represented in the articles in this Special Issue, which involve high-level and professional athletes, coaches, student volunteers, and higher education academics. There are of course other types of workers for whom ‘sport’ represents an important occupation, including those in related domains such as the leisure and hospitality industries, and understanding the work situations of these groups is no less important than those we have been able to include here.
