Sportsperson
Summary
Professional sportspeople earn all or part of their living through participating in sporting events, either as individuals or as members of a team.
Duties & Tasks
Professional sportspeople may perform the following tasks:
- maintain a high degree of expertise in their particular sport
- attend regular practice sessions and undertake private training to maintain the required standard of fitness
- take part in scheduled sporting competitions
- repair sporting equipment or organise its repair
- undertake sports promotional activities, demonstrations and television appearances
- coach individuals, groups and/or teams by demonstrating techniques and supervising practice.
Specialisations
Sports Commentator
A sports commentator describes the progress of play during broadcasts of sporting events and explains the technicalities and the tactics of the sport to the audience.
Sports Development Officer
A sports development officer works for clubs, associations or state or territory sporting bodies promoting their sport or their club. They may visit schools, address pupils on the benefits of playing a particular sport or for a particular club and organise demonstrations and activities relating to the skills of the sport.
Working Conditions
Most sportspeople compete as amateurs (unpaid) until they reach a sufficiently high standard to be offered payment for their performance.
Personal Requirements
- physically fit
- dedicated to attaining and maintaining a high standard of skill and endurance in a particular sport
- good communication skills for promotional work
- willing to travel.
