Athletes, Coaches, Referees and Related Occupations - What They Do

Athletes participate in competitive sports events on an amateur or professional basis. They play team sports such as hockey, baseball, football and lacrosse; or compete in individual sports such as skiing, figure skating, boxing or track and field; or in games such as poker or chess. They are employed by professional team organizations or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Train under the direction of a coach or trainer to qualify for competition
Attend scheduled practice and training sessions
Participate in local, regional, provincial, national or international competitions and sporting events
Assess performance after an event to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Job titles

athlete
track athlete
professional athlete
boxer
harness race driver
golfer
jockey
baseball player
football player
hockey player
figure skater
skier
sprinter

Employment Requirements

This is what you typically need for the job:

Demonstrated ability in a particular sport, or type of game, is required.
Extensive training under the supervision of a coach is required.
Certification with a particular sports federation may be required.
A background combining athletic training and college or university studies is strongly recommended.

Essential Skills

Analysis