Professional athletes play sports for a living. They have achieved top standing in their chosen field through years of training. Professional athletes are people with natural talent, stamina, and competitive drive. They have excellent reflexes and coordination and are well disciplined when it comes to rigorous practice and training.
Most professional athletes have risen from the ranks of fine amateur athletes. Amateur athletes play for the joy of competing and winning and occasionally for awards such as Olympic medals. Some play for schools, colleges, or clubs or in tournaments. Unlike amateurs, however, professional athletes earn money for playing sports. They play for profit-making teams—professional football, baseball, basketball, and hockey teams to name several. In individual sports including golf, tennis, and boxing, athletes play in tournaments in which prize money is awarded to the winner.
Professional athletes must keep their bodies in excellent condition. Even those players whose sports are seasonal must be concerned about fitness all through the year. Their training intensifies before competitions: the ice hockey or basketball star who plays for twenty or thirty minutes per game may prepare for an entire week by practicing, analyzing strategy, and watching films of the opposing team.
Education and Training RequirementsIn many sports from basketball to baseball to golf, a college education is invaluable. Professional players are often first noticed by scouts who are sent to watch college players. Professional athletes in most sports retire from their games when they are still fairly young, and a college education can help them advance in the careers they choose after sports. Athletic scholarships are available at many colleges in several sports, although most are given to football, basketball, and baseball players.
Read more: Professional Athlete Job Description, Career as a Professional Athlete, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job - StateUniversity.com http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/550/Professional-Athlete.html#ixzz2AEvpb3Q2
Most professional athletes have risen from the ranks of fine amateur athletes. Amateur athletes play for the joy of competing and winning and occasionally for awards such as Olympic medals. Some play for schools, colleges, or clubs or in tournaments. Unlike amateurs, however, professional athletes earn money for playing sports. They play for profit-making teams—professional football, baseball, basketball, and hockey teams to name several. In individual sports including golf, tennis, and boxing, athletes play in tournaments in which prize money is awarded to the winner.
Professional athletes must keep their bodies in excellent condition. Even those players whose sports are seasonal must be concerned about fitness all through the year. Their training intensifies before competitions: the ice hockey or basketball star who plays for twenty or thirty minutes per game may prepare for an entire week by practicing, analyzing strategy, and watching films of the opposing team.
Education and Training RequirementsIn many sports from basketball to baseball to golf, a college education is invaluable. Professional players are often first noticed by scouts who are sent to watch college players. Professional athletes in most sports retire from their games when they are still fairly young, and a college education can help them advance in the careers they choose after sports. Athletic scholarships are available at many colleges in several sports, although most are given to football, basketball, and baseball players.
Read more: Professional Athlete Job Description, Career as a Professional Athlete, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job - StateUniversity.com http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/550/Professional-Athlete.html#ixzz2AEvpb3Q2