NWSL Passes Historic Agreement That Includes Mental Health Leave

May 27, 2022 

Earlier this month, the National Women’s Soccer League’s first-ever collective bargaining agreement (CBA) – which was ratified in January – was signed and published online, becoming the first CBA in professional women’s soccer. The document includes new details on performance bonuses, player benefits, free agency, accommodations and exclusively mental health leave. 

Angel City FC midfielder, Cari Roccaro, helped secure the unprecedented mental health policy for her league which is believed to be the first in US professional sports. Combined with the work of the NWSL Players Association, players are now legally entitled to up to six months of paid mental health leave. The 27-year-old is a mental health advocate and has openly shared about her personal mental health issues. Together, with fellow soccer player Ginny McGowan, she produces the podcast Butterfly Road to discuss athletes' mental health and help destigmatize the issue. 

According to Supportiv, 40% of elite soccer players experience anxiety or depression with a distinct lack of support perceived in the industry. Roccaro spoke to the Parity organization about her “debilitating mental illness” during the 2018 and 2019 off-season, and how prior to the CBA, mental illness was not regarded as a physical injury and would not be paid. 

“I reached out to Meghann Burke, the lawyer for the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association, and then my player reps at the time... I told her about my experience and asked, “Tell me how this makes sense and how we can change it?” She took it to all the other player reps, and they fought for it...but apparently, protected mental health leave was one of the earlier things to get approved,” she shared.

As part of the CBA, players are now able to take up paid mental health leave to help them extend their careers and make players safer and healthier. Players will also be guaranteed eight weeks of paid maternity/parental leave, whether they choose to give birth or adopt. 

Additionally, under the agreement, each team is required to employ a team physician, massage therapist, sports scientist, sports psychologist and a team clinician to provide mental health services. All teams will follow the same standards to ensure equity across the league. 

“It’s massive for players, for the NWSL, and for global professional women’s soccer. When we started this process, there was never a question about whether we wanted to make the contract publicly available. [By doing this], we certainly hope that other players’ associations will push women’s pro sports forward by using this as a benchmark,” Burke told NBC Sports. 

Roccaro shared with FIFPRO, the global union for professional football players, that she is currently not struggling with her mental health and finds comfort knowing that she will never have to choose between her job and sanity ever again. 

“For the first time ever, you can have it all: an option to be safe and healthy, thrive and make money, and be part of the team. I wonder how many players will come forward and be more open and vulnerable about their mental health instead of suffering in silence. This is opening the door to have a good conversation, to having coaches understand that you are not weak if you come forward and say that you are struggling mentally,” said Roccaro. 

Source: Parity