Many people dream of becoming a paid professional athlete. Few people, however, beat the odds and make a full-time living from professional athletics. And when they do, professional athletes often have short careers with little job security.

Daily Tasks

Athletes and sports competitors typically do the following:

1. Practice to develop and improve their skills

2. Maintain the equipment they use in their sport in good condition

3. Stay in the best physical condition by training, exercising, and following special diets

4. Take instructions from coaches and other sports staff during games regarding strategy and tactics

5. Obey the rules of the sport during competitions and games

6. Assess how they did after each event and identify their strengths and weaknesses

Key Knowledge Areas

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Key Skills

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.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

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

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

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