Professional Athlete Career Description

People who get paid to play sports are professional athletes. To have a career as athlete you should have the drive and dedication towards the sports you are interested in. If you don't have these qualities it will be hard to pull yourself to training on a day where you don't feel like waking up early in the morning. Basically you have to live, eat and breathe it and of course, you need to have the three qualities drive, determination and dedication.

Tasks of Professional Athlete

The athletes are supposed to perform some tasks no matter what sports they are into.

• They are required to possess the readiness to practice and rehearse for the game whenever and wherever they are expected.
• The career as athlete demands huge amounts of training and practice before the final presentation. You have to spend most or say all the day training because you have to be the best among all the thousands of athlete with whom you are going to compete and who are as just talented as you are.
• In addition to this, they have to work and improve on the advice of their coaches and trainers. They must implement what is being asked by them.
• Attend the meetings or watch films about their opposition.
• They have to be good traveler because he often has to travel from one city or state or even country to another. If an athlete is in a team game he even can get traded.

To have a career in this field you have to get the exposure by playing in school teams, athlete clubs, and leagues and at sports camps. It's just as the entertainment industry if you have the talent you will reach the top and you will survive.

Qualifications Required

In many sports, like football, cricket or basketball, a college education is insignificant since it is the skill of the sportsperson that is required to be exhibited in front of the audience. A professional athlete is first noticed by a scout send by the sports governing body to any school or colleges to watch them play. Many athletes retire from their game when they are fairly young and hence a college education can help to choose any other career if they want. Athletic scholarships are available in many colleges and schools that boost up career as athlete.

Other necessary Skills

• During a professional season the athlete has to practice more than 35 hours a week so they must have a brilliant physical stamina.
• Must have good team coordination and sportsmanship.
• Must have natural talent and has good reflexes and the best coordination.
• Unity amongst the team mates is very important too

Job Opportunities

To have a career in this sector is intense nowadays, because many young men and women dream of becoming a professional athlete. Some sports like cricket, baseball basketball hockey have minor leagues you can get in these leagues but then to progress even further is more difficult. If you have an injury you are out, and if someone is better than you, then too it's the same result. That's the reason why you have to have drive and determination.

Remuneration

In 2010, the average salary was nearly thirty thousand dollars per year. Professional athletes' income usually depends on the club, board or committee they play for. The players playing at the county or local levels earn lesser than athletes who represent international boards. The most determining factor of getting the income in career as athlete depends on the there skills. A professional athlete can earn millions and dollars per year if he is highly skilled and famous professional athlete.

Job Progress

• After achieving a successful career as athlete you have opened the doors for many other job opportunities like after a professional athlete is retires from his/her game they can even be the coach of any team.
• They can even turn to be Dietitians and nutritionists
• Experienced and trained can become Recreational therapists or even fitness workers.
• According to a survey held in 2008 about 16,500 held jobs as professional athletes.

Employment Forecast

The scope of the career is fair for the skilled and well talented professionals. To have this career you should know that you are getting paid to perform in front of the audience. They are the ones who pay for the game or come to see their favorite athlete play, so if an athlete does not play well he won't last long and hence an athlete must perform well in each game. The forecast for this career is lucrative till the athlete plays in form and keeps entertaining the public.