Many sporting fans dream of becoming a player to the level of the likes of Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali or Serena Williams. However, the reality is that getting to this level as a player — or any level that provides a stable income — is reserved for very few people in each sport. But there is an upside to this.
For every successful player, there was a coach who taught them, an assistant to that coach, a marketing and promotions coordinator, a physical therapist, medical assistant and many more people who were instrumental in their success. Every time that player went onto the field or court, a sportscaster, sports writer and sports photographer were watching.
These professions represent a small portion of the many careers that make up the sporting world, proving that you don’t have to become a player to enjoy a job that is part of the industry you want to be in. With this in mind, here are four great sports-focused careers that are especially suitable for young people.
Physical Therapist
As a physical therapist, you’ll use your knowledge of exercise and anatomy to help patients recover from sports-related injuries. Around 15 per cent of the personal trainer workforce is under the age of 24 and enjoy high salaries, great job satisfaction and high demand thanks to growth in the industry. A degree is usually required in addition to a license.
Sports Broadcaster
If you have an eye for analysis and a voice for radio, being a sports broadcaster is a considerable career path. You’ll need to know your facts and constantly have your eye on the ball while fluently communicating with your audience. There’s no doubt that it’s a challenging career, but sports broadcasters are usually rewarded handsomely for their efforts.
Personal Trainer
The fitness industry in the UK is seeing massive growth, with more and more people heading to the gym to get their daily workout in. This makes now a better time than ever to hone your teaching skills and passion for people to become a personal trainer. But high demand and subsequent job security aren’t the only reasons to become a personal trainer.
It’s also a highly rewarding and satisfying career, not to mention the lack of a need for an expensive university degree to qualify. In fact, the courses you can take instead are much more affordable and take less time to complete. For more information on the cost, requirements and benefits, consider this personal training course via Blended Learning.
Referee
Referees enjoy many benefits, such as an exciting work environment, frequent travel opportunities and high salaries. This career path is especially suited towards young people, as your high school or college might already be in need of a referee for their games. This will provide a solid basis for you to hone your skills and put some experience on your CV.
These are just some of the many great sporting careers that are suited to young people. As you might imagine, the sporting industry is huge, so there are always plenty of opportunities waiting to be captured by young, creative minds like your own.
Image by Daniel Reche from Pixabay
