Athlete or Sports Competitor

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.

Important Qualities

Athleticism. Athletes and sports competitors need athletic ability to compete against opponents.

Concentration. Athletes and sports competitors must focus when competing, which includes being able to block out distractions from fans and opponents.

Decision-making skills. Athletes and sports competitors often must make split-second decisions that affect the outcome of a play or the entire competition.

Dedication. Athletes and sports competitors must practice regularly to develop their skills and improve or maintain their physical conditioning.

Hand–eye coordination. Athletes and sports competitors must be able to gauge depth and distance to react and maneuver quickly during competition, such as to strike a fast-moving ball or guide a jumping horse.

Stamina. Endurance is important for helping athletes and sports competitors manage stress during events and ensure that their bodies remain in peak performance condition.

Teamwork. The ability to work toward a shared goal with others, including teammates and coaches, is essential for athletes’ and sports competitors’ success.

Professional athletes also may be required to pass drug tests.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		91%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		90%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		85%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		85%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		82%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		81%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		81%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		80%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		79%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		79%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		76%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		74%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		69%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		63%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		57%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		52%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		89%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		61%	Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		83%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		78%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		78%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		67%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
		56%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		75%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		72%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		72%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		72%	Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
		72%	Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
		66%	Explosive Strength - The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
		66%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		66%	Dynamic Strength - The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
		63%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		63%	Gross Body Coordination - The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
		60%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		60%	Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
		60%	Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
		60%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
		60%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		60%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		56%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		56%	Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
		56%	Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
		56%	Gross Body Equilibrium - The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
		56%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		53%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
		53%	Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		54%	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Practice athletic or artistic skills.

Participate in athletic events.

Practice athletic or artistic skills.

Evaluate skills of athletes or performers.

Promote products, activities, or organizations.

Coach others.

Participate in athletic events.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		94%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		87%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		86%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		83%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		80%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		80%	Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
		78%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		78%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		77%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		76%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		76%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		73%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		72%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		69%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		69%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		67%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		67%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		64%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		61%	Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
		60%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		60%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		60%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		59%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		58%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		57%	Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running?
		57%	Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting - How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
		56%	Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
		55%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		53%	Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance - How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
		53%	Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
		75%	Work Schedules - How regular are the work schedules for this job?
		72%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		81%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		76%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		75%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		73%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		73%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		72%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		71%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		71%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		68%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		68%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		67%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		65%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		65%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		64%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		63%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		63%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		62%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		61%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		61%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		60%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		57%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		57%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		56%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		56%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		56%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		56%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		55%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		53%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		52%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

What Athletes and Sports Competitors Do

Athletes and sports competitors practice under the direction of coaches and sports instructors.

Athletes and sports competitors participate in organized, officiated sporting events to entertain spectators.

Duties

Athletes and sports competitors typically do the following:

Practice to develop and improve their skills
Keep their sports equipment in good condition
Exercise, train, and follow special diets to stay in the best physical condition
Take instructions regarding strategy and tactics from coaches and other sports staff during practices and competitions
Follow the rules of the sport during competitions
Assess performance after each event and identify their strengths and weaknesses

Many people dream of becoming a professional athlete. Few people, however, make a full-time living from professional athletics—and when they do, professional athletes often have short careers with little job security.

When performing, athletes and sports competitors must understand the strategies involved in their sport while following its rules and regulations. The events in which athletes compete include team sports, such as baseball, football, hockey, and soccer, and individual sports, such as golf, racecar driver, and tennis. The level of play varies. Some athletes compete in regional events; others compete in national or international events.

Being an athlete involves more than competing in athletic events. Athletes spend most days practicing and improving their skills under the guidance of a coach or a sports instructor. They review videos to critique and improve their performance and technique. To gain a competitive advantage, athletes also study their opponents' tendencies and weaknesses.

Because of the physical demands required by many sports, career-ending injuries are always a risk. Some athletes work regularly with fitness trainers and instructors to gain muscle and stamina and to prevent injury. They also may work with athletic trainers or exercise physiologists to recover and rebuild from injuries, even minor ones.

Sports competition at the professional level is intense, and job security is always in question. Therefore, many pro athletes train throughout the year to maintain or improve their form and technique to remain in peak physical condition. Little downtime from the sport exists at the professional level.

Work Environment

Athletes and sports competitors held about 14,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of athletes and sports competitors were as follows:

Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries	75%
Self-employed workers	8
Fitness and recreational sports centers	2

Athletes and sports competitors who participate in outdoor competitions may be exposed to weather conditions of the season in which they play their sport. In addition, many athletes must travel to sporting events. Such travel may include long bus rides or plane trips, and, in some cases, international travel.

Injuries and Illnesses

Athletes and sports competitors have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Many of these workers wear gloves, helmets, pads, and other protective gear to guard against injury. And although fatalities are uncommon, athletes and sports competitors experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations.

Work Schedules

Athletes and sports competitors may work irregular schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays; part-time work is also common. During the sports season, they typically work more than 40 hours per week for several months as they practice, train, travel, and compete.

Getting Started

Education:

35%

Less than a High School Diploma

24%

Bachelor's Degree

How to Become an Athlete or Sports Competitor

Athletes and sports competitors gain experience by competing in high school, college, or club teams.

No formal educational credential is typically required to become an athlete or sports competitor. Athletes must have athletic talent and extensive knowledge of their sport. They typically get such knowledge through years of experience at lower levels of competition.

Education

Although no formal educational credential is typically required to enter the occupation, most athletes and sports competitors have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some play their sport in college, where they take courses that may lead to a degree. They must have extensive knowledge of the way the sport is played—especially its rules, regulations, and strategies.

Other Experience

Athletes typically learn the rules of the game and develop their skills by playing the sport at lower levels of competition. They often begin training at a young age and may compete on club teams or in high school and collegiate athletics. In addition, athletes may improve their skills by taking private or group lessons or attending sports camps.

Training

It typically takes many years of practice and experience to become an athlete or sports competitor.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Some sports and states require athletes and sports competitors to be licensed or certified to practice. For example, racecar drivers need a driver’s license issued by their state and a certification or license from an automobile racing organization to compete in some races. State licensing boards and professional athletics associations, which serve as governing bodies of various sports, may revoke licenses and suspend participants who do not meet the required performance or training. In addition, athletes may have their licenses or certification suspended for inappropriate activity.

Advancement

Turning professional is often the biggest advancement that aspiring athletes make in their careers. They may begin to compete immediately, although some also may spend more time on the bench (as a reserve) to gain experience. In some sports, such as baseball, athletes may begin their professional career on a minor league team before moving up to the major leagues. Professional athletes generally advance in their sport by displaying superior performance and receiving accolades; in turn, they typically earn a higher salary. They also may receive endorsements from companies and brands.

Job Outlook

Employment of athletes and sports competitors is projected to grow 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 1,900 openings for athletes and sports competitors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Employment growth is expected to stem from an increased public interest in professional sports. Expansion is rare in professional sports leagues because forming new teams is costly and risky. However, several leagues discussing future expansion plans could affect the demand for athletes and sports competitors over the projections decade.

An interim rule change in college sports and legislation for a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy in many states will allow student-athletes to sign endorsements. As a result, there should be an increase in self-employment for athletes and sports competitors over the decade.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about team and individual sports, visit

National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Council of Youth Sports

National Federation of State High School Associations

For more information related to individual sports, refer to the organization that represents the sport.

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of athletes and sports competitors.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Coaches and Scouts	Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits.	Bachelor's degree	$44,890
Fitness Trainers and Instructors	Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities.	High school diploma or equivalent	$45,380
Recreation Workers	Recreation workers design and lead activities to help people stay active, improve fitness, and have fun.	High school diploma or equivalent	$31,680
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials	Umpires, referees, and other sports officials preside over competitive athletic or sporting events to help maintain standards of play.	High school diploma or equivalent	$36,010