Sports Professionals are men and women who participate either as players, trainers, coaches, or as officials in competitive athletic events for personal enjoyment and monetary gain.

JOB DUTIES

Sports Professionals may:

Train for the sport by physical exercise and practice under the direction of a Trainer or Coach

Play the game or sport according to established rules

Perform against competition as individuals or as members of a team

Make personal appearances at various events

Observe and analyze the performance of professional athletes

Instruct athletes in game strategies and techniques of play

Evaluate the physical condition of athletes

Advise athletes on how to develop and maintain maximum physical fitness

Teach rules, principles, and techniques of sports to individuals or groups

Observe actions of participants in athletic events

Settle disputes according to the regulations of the sport

Arrange game schedules, teach, and sometimes officiate

The equipment and materials used vary with the specific sport.

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Sports Professionals may specialize in these areas:

153.341-010 PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES participate in competitive sports such as football, hockey, and boxing. They train for their sport through much practice and physical exercise, usually under the direction of a trainer or coach.

153.224-010 ATHLETIC TRAINERS evaluate the physical condition of professional and amateur athletes and advise and treat them to maintain maximum physical fitness for participation in athletic competition.

153.227-014 PHYSICAL INSTRUCTORS teach beginning or advanced calisthenics, gymnastics, and reducing or corrective exercises to individuals or groups and evaluate abilities of each person to determine a suitable training program.

153.227-010 PROFESSIONAL ATHLETIC COACHES train athletes as individuals and teams for competitive sports. They analyze the performance of Professional Athletes and instruct them in game strategies and techniques to prepare them for athletic competition. Coaches observe and instruct players individually or in groups, demonstrate techniques of play, and provide special instruction to strengthen weak areas.

153.227-018 SPORTS INSTRUCTORS teach sports to individuals or groups by explaining and demonstrating rules, score keeping, use of apparatus, and safety regulations. Depending on the sport they teach, they may be known as riding instructors, golf instructors, or other titles.

153.267-018 UMPIRES sometimes called judges or referees, observe the actions of game participants to detect rule violations and to settle disputes according to the regulations of the sport. They also determine such things as validity of goals, finish line order, and out-of-bounds plays.

153.243-010 AUTOMOBILE RACERS drive racing cars in competition road races. They must be alert to observe fuel, oil, and other gages on the dashboard of the car as well as flags or flares which might appear on the racetrack. They may perform some auto maintenance.

153.243-014 MOTORCYCLE RACERS ride motorcycles over track, course, or natural terrain in competitive races. They must operate the motorcycle using their hands and feet, being sensitive to conditions of the cycle as well as the race course. They may perform some motorcycle maintenance.

153.244-010 JOCKEYS ride horses on racetracks. They must work with training personnel to prepare for the race according to their riding ability, the horse's condition, and other horses in the competition.

153.244-014 SULKY DRIVERS drive horse-drawn, two-wheeled sulkies in harness races. They must control the horse and vehicle throughout the race on the racetrack and among other sulkies involved. They may train their own harness racing horse and may direct the activities of workers involved in the grooming, training, feeding, stabling, handling, and transporting of the horse.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

           [back to top]

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Sports Professionals are self-employed or work for private or public athletic clubs. Some work for educational institutions.

Many Sports Professionals have to spend a great deal of time traveling, often traveling overnight by plane, bus, or car. They might have to eat meals quickly. They are often separated from their families for long periods of time (training camps and road trips).

The primary hazards of playing in sports events are the injuries which may occur. Special equipment and penalties assessed against both individuals and teams for rule infractions tend to lessen these hazards.

Coaches are under great pressure, especially if their team or players are losing. Pressure comes from fans, reporters, sportscasters, and team management. Coaches may be fired if the team does poorly, even though the losses may not be the fault of the coach.

Many Sports Professionals work up to 72 hours, 6 or 7 days a week during the time they are competing.

Some sports, such as baseball or football, may be played during short seasons. Other sports, such as tennis, golf, and bowling are played throughout the year.

Many Sports Professionals work up to 72 hours, six and seven days a week during the time they are competing. During the rest of the year, hours are generally shorter. Actual playing time may be as little as one hour or less and up to two hours or more per day. Hours vary for those who work in educational institutions.

Players generally have to provide and maintain their personal sports equipment. In sports such as tennis and golf must pay their travel costs and related expenses. In team sports, equipment and uniforms may be provided.

Most Sports Professionals belong to their particular sports professional association or union. Members of associations or unions must pay periodic membership fees.

You Should Prefer:

• Excelling in competitive activities

• Working with people and communicating information

• Performing activities which bring recognition from others

You Should Be Able To:

• Understand and use language effectively

• Understand diagrams, pictures, and charts

• Follow oral and written instructions and perform with accuracy

• Make decisions based on personal judgment

• Maintain speed and concentration under pressure

• Work effectively with other members of a team

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

What would the target heart rate be for a forty-year-old man with a resting heart rate of 68?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Must be able to read and comprehend sports terminology and procedures.

For example, measuring sensitivity of kinesthesis and joints. The minimal amplitude of active and passive movements that an athlete can detect in a given joint is measured in angular degrees. As a rule, such measurements are done on kinematometers. The sensitivity of muscles and joints depends on sports discipline, emotions, and fatigue.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a fitness plan for a player on a sports team you are coaching, considering the player's physical inhibitors, physical needs, nutrition, and daily exercise workouts.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Whether an individual is performing a sport, training, or coaching, analytical skills are very important in evaluating skills and abilities.

Those wishing to become Sports Professionals must have a physical exam. For teaching or coaching jobs in educational institutions, at least a bachelor's degree along with a teaching certificate is required. Public school coaches must have a teaching certificate issued by the Michigan Department of Education. All individuals participating in boxing, sparring, or wrestling matches must be licensed by the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services, although amateur matches conducted by government agencies and school are exempt. Temporary licenses are issued to non-residents who officiate at tournaments. Race jockeys, harness drivers, and their agents are licensed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

              
               [back to top]

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) or a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1100 ECONOMICS , 1500 FOODS & NUTRITION , 2200 MATH , 2500 PERFORMING ARTS , 2700 PHYSICAL EDUCATION , 2800 PUBLIC SPEAKING , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this MOIScript

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

134 PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Programs in Physical Education provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment as professional athletes, coaches, managers of athletic programs, or teachers. Elementary and secondary school teachers must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses within this program will vary and depend on specific areas of interest. They may include:

207 SPORTS MEDICINE

Programs in Sports Medicine provide opportunities to gain knowledge and skills in sports, medicine, the sciences, and other health related areas. It focuses on prevention, physical therapy, and rehabilitation of the negative effects of exercise. Possible jobs may include athletic trainer, physical therapist or teacher. Individuals who teach at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Sports Medicine programs include clinical and laboratory work and observation. A sampling of courses may include:

            Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the Military website at http://www.myfuture.com

SPECIAL OPERATIONS OFFICERS

Each service has specially trained forces to perform rapid strike missions. These elite forces stay in a constant state of readiness to strike anywhere in the world on a moment's notice. Special operations officers lead special operations forces in offensive raids, demolitions, intelligence gather, and search and rescue missions. Due to the wide variety of missions, special operations officers are trained swimmers, parachutists, and survival experts.

What They Do

Special operations officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Train personnel in parachute, scuba diving, and special combat techniques

• Plan missions and coordinate plans with other forces as needed

• Train personnel for special missions using simulated mission conditions

• Lead special forces teams in accomplishing mission objectives

• Direct and supervise administrative activities of special forces units

Physical Demands

Special operations officers must meet very demanding physical requirements. Good eyesight, nigh vision, and physical conditioning are required to reach mission objectives by parachute, over land, or under water. Good eye-hand coordination is required to detonate or deactivate explosives. In most instances, special operations officers are required to be qualified swimmers, parachutists, and endurance runners.

Special Requirements

A 4-year college degree is normally required to enter this occupation. Selection as a special operations officer is vary competitive. This occupation is open only to men.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful fields of study include physical education, engineering, physical sciences, history, and business or public administration. Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to remain calm and decisive under stress

• Willingness to accept a challenge and face danger

• Willingness to stay in top physical condition

• Determination to complete a very demanding training program

Work Environment

Because special operations officers must be prepared to go anywhere in the world they are needed, they train and work in all climates, weather conditions, and settings. They may work in cold water and dive from submarines or small underwater craft. They may also be exposed to harsh temperatures, often without protection, during missions into enemy-controlled areas.

Training Provided

Job training consists of up to 20 weeks of formal classroom training and practical experiences. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:

• Physical conditioning, scuba diving, swimming, and parachuting

• Mission planning techniques

• Handling and using explosives

• Reconnaissance techniques

Additional training occurs on the job. Basic skills are kept sharp through planning and conducting exercises under simulated mission conditions.

Civilian Counterparts

Although the job of special operations officer has no equivalent in civilian life, the leadership and administrative skills it provides are similar to those used in many civilian management occupations, particularly law enforcement.

Opportunities

The services have about 1,900 special operations officers. On average they need 20 new special operations officers each year. After training, special operations officers usually assist commanders in directing special operations forces. After demonstrating leadership ability, they may assume command positions.  

E-Learning Courses and Programs

              
               [back to top]

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Experience can come from sports through leagues, schools, and athletic clubs. Engaging activity in a sport at an early age might be wise for some individuals. Skills may be improved by attending summer camps and sports clinics sponsored by well-known Sports Professionals. Internships in physical education may be available through postsecondary study in programs such as physical education and sports medicine. Experience might be gained in military service also.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Sports Professional employer

internships

volunteer work with a Sports Professional employer

community service work with an agency

High schools and colleges are usually the proving and training grounds for Athletes. Other ways to enter include direct application to teams, recruitment by scouts, recommendation from coaches, participating in national amateur tournaments, earn a college sport scholarship, and participate in "free agent draft" in which teams pick players.

In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Michigan Talent Bank

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal      

Yahoo! Careers

MONSTER.COM  

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.  

               
                 [back to top]

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Sports Professionals are most directly related to individual performance. Minimum salaries are often governed by agreements between team owners and players' unions or associations. In some sports, such as tennis and golf, earnings depend more heavily on the success of the individual than they do in such sports as baseball and football where players are guaranteed minimum salaries. Some professional athletes might receive these professional-level earnings for only a very few years. For example, the average length of a typical NBA or NFL career is less than 4 years.

In 1999, Sports Professionals earned from $53,000 to over $19,000,000 yearly in the major sports. Nationally, annual earnings for major sports were:

The earnings of referees and umpires are determined by the type of sport, their experience, and whether the game is pre-season, regular, or post-season. Referees and umpires in the National Football League are paid per game.

Besides salaries or winnings, some Sports Professionals receive cash bonuses, cars, annuities, deferred payments with interest, percentage of ticket sales or of closed-circuit TV, sales, or other income supplements. Some earn extra money by playing in play-off and championship games, endorsing products in print or on radio or TV, telling their life stories to magazine reporters, and making personal appearances.

Excellent pension plans are available for players in major sports. Those who coach in educational institutions receive the same fringe benefits as teachers have.

Instructors may become Coaches, athletic directors, or professional general managers. Athletes may advance by being noticed by scouts, competing in tournaments or other events, and by winning.

               [back to top]

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, there were about 91,000 athletes employed in 1998. In the United States, primarily at the professional level there were also 303,100 sports instructors, coaches and physical trainers, primarily employed by schools, colleges and universities during 1996. This group of occupations is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2006.

In Michigan, there were approximately 10,150 Sports Professionals employed. This figure includes both the professional and athletes and those working as sports instructors, coaches and physical trainers.

Employment of Sports Professionals in Michigan is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. An average of 380 annual openings is expected with 230 due to growth and 150 due to replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations. Some opportunities in professional competitive sports are expected to continue because of TV, radio, and newspaper publicity, increased leisure time, and increased incomes. However, because the amount of money available for leisure and recreation activities is reduced during periods of economic hardship, opportunities may be limited during such times. Opportunities are limited except for those who excel.

Women are beginning to receive financial assistance and recognition in the world of sports. Increasing numbers of colleges in Michigan are offering women athletes scholarships. This will result in more women developing skills to participate in professional sports.

Professional Sports is a very competitive business. Only a very few people enter the field, competition for positions is intense and never-ending, many athletes retire in their late 20's or early 30's, and injuries may prematurely end the sports career of even the most talented individuals. Therefore, it is recommended that persons planning to enter the field have one or more alternative career choices.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.