Athletes and Sports Competitors

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Also known as:
All Terrain Vehicle Racer, Athlete, Auto Racer, Baseball Pitcher, Baseball Player, Basketball Player, Bicycle Racer, Bicyclist, Billiard Player, Bowler

See all Hospitality and Tourism Careers.

ABOUT ATHLETES OR SPORTS COMPETITOR CAREERS

Video transcript

Organized athletic events provide excitement and enjoyment for fans of many sports. Professional athletes train or practice under the direction of an athletic trainer or coach. They participate in sporting events to entertain the fans and promote the sport and also make public appearances.

Athletes must be in top physical condition and may suffer serious physical injury, especially in contact sports. Coaches and umpires on the other hand, monitor the athletes' performance. Coaches work with a single team or individual, teaching them the best ways to compete in their specific sport.

The umpires, sometimes known as referees or officials, observe the competition, apply and enforce the rules and decide disputes between competitors. Both coaches and officials need to have good communication skills and the ability to make split-second decisions. They must also be able to withstand constant pressure and scrutiny, not only from fans, but also from the press.

If you are talented enough to compete successfully for the limited number of positions in each of these occupations and don't mind traveling, you may be rewarded with the applause of the crowd and the personal fulfillment of working at a job you love.

SNAPSHOT

Compete in athletic events.

Leadership	MED
Critical decision making	HIGH
Level of responsibilities	HIGH
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines	HIGH
Dealing and handling conflict	LOW

Competition for this position	HIGH
Communication with others	HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.	HIGH
Comfort of the work setting	HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions	LOW
Exposure to job hazards	LOW
Physical demands	LOW

Daily tasks

Lead teams by serving as captain.

Exercise or practice under the direction of athletic trainers or professional coaches to develop skills, improve physical condition, or prepare for competitions.

Receive instructions from coaches or other sports staff prior to events and discuss performance afterwards.

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.

Represent teams or professional sports clubs, performing such activities as meeting with members of the media, making speeches, or participating in charity events.

Maintain equipment used in a particular sport.

Attend scheduled practice or training sessions.

Assess performance following athletic competition, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making adjustments to improve future performance.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Getting Information	Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Analyzing Data or Information	Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

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 of materials.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Developing Objectives and Strategies	Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

Administration and Management	Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service	Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Personnel and Human Resources	Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Communications and Media	Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Education and Training	Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Sales and Marketing	Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Mathematics	Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

TOP SKILLS

Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking	Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening	Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination	Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Judgment and Decision Making	Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Social Perceptiveness	Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.