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Athletes and Sports Competitors

In the Athletes and Sports Competitors occupation, workers compete in athletic events. Expect to assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance. On the six-type interest model it reads RES, meaning hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world comes first, followed by leading, persuading and making business decisions. Plan on a few months to a year of learning on the job; O*NET labels this some preparation. Strength in speaking, critical thinking, and active listening helps most here. You may also need to maintain equipment used in a particular sport. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need research, analysis and working through hard problems.

What they do

Compete in athletic events.

Main tasks

  • Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance.
  • Maintain equipment used in a particular sport.
  • Attend scheduled practice or training sessions.
  • Maintain optimum physical fitness levels by training regularly, following nutrition plans, or consulting with health professionals.
  • Participate in athletic events or competitive sports, according to established rules and regulations.
  • Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions.

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Coordination
  • Monitoring
  • Judgment and Decision Making

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on speaking and critical thinking.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You want to spend most of your time analyzing and researching. Investigative rates 1.4 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RES takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Baseball Pitcher
  • Baseball Player
  • Basketball Player
  • Golf Professional
  • Hockey Player

Related careers

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.