Sports professional
Use your high level of sporting talent to compete in your chosen sport.
Also known as: sports player
About the job
What it's like
Can you see yourself as the next Andy Murray, Eilish McColgan or Duncan Scott? As a sports professional, you'll use your talent to compete at a high level within your chosen activity.
Some athletes focus on an individual sport. For example, this could be athletics, boxing, tennis, snooker, cycling, golf or horse racing.
Alternatively, you could compete in a team sport. For instance, you may play football, cricket, basketball, rugby, hockey or ice hockey.
Keep in mind that most people who play sports are not professionals. The majority are amateurs, who may compete, but do not make money from their sport. Only those with exceptional sporting talent can become a professional. You'll also need to work extremely hard and dedicate yourself to your sport if you dream of turning professional.
Some sports professionals compete on a part-time basis. They'll spend a few days or evenings per week training and competing, but will work in a different job during the day.
Your tasks might include:
competing in matches and competitions
constantly training to improve your skills, fitness and stamina
adjusting your diet and lifestyle to help you achieve peak performance
taking advice from nutritionists, sports coaches, exercise professionals, sports psychologists and doctors
giving media interviews ahead of big sporting events
promoting products by appearing in adverts, if you're a well-known sports personality
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
SportScotland Institute of Sport – explore the home of high-performance sport in Scotland
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- cooperating
- verbal communication
- listening
- attention to detail
- self esteem
- taking initiative
- taking responsibility
- self awareness
- resilience
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
PE (Physical education)
The route to becoming a professional varies in each sport.
You'll typically start by joining a club, academy or amateur organisation where you can train and access coaching. Most sports professionals are spotted by talent scouts at a young age.
In some sports, you may be able to get financial support to develop your sporting talent while continuing your general education.
College
Some 'professional' sports courses are available. Although, these tend to lead towards sports coaching roles rather than helping you become a professional competitor.
Use the My World of Work course search to find sports-related college courses.
Some professional sports careers provide an opportunity to gain relevant work-based qualifications, such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance.
Joining a club or amateur organisation is a good starting point. This'll provide you with the instructions and training you need to build your skills.
To compete in some sports, you'll need to meet very specific entry requirements. For example, horse racing requires its jockeys to be a certain height and weight.
In most sports, you'll be encouraged continue training or learning in a completely different area or subject. This'll help if you need to supplement your income from sport with another full-time or part-time job. It'll also allow you to move into another line of work once your sporting career is over.
Some sports will supply bursaries and scholarships to talented young performers.
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