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Athlete/Professional Player

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Primary Secondary Post-16

A career as an athlete or professional player involves competing in sports at the highest levels. This can include football, rugby, tennis, athletics, cricket, or other organised sports. Athletes dedicate many hours each week to training, conditioning, and practising their skills. They often work with coaches and support staff to improve their performance and may travel nationally or internationally for competitions and matches. Success in this field requires physical fitness, mental resilience, and strong teamwork skills, depending on the sport. Professional players may also be involved in media appearances, sponsorships, and community outreach work. It is a highly competitive career with considerable physical demands, and many athletes also prepare for second careers after retirement.

Athlete/Professional Player

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

The average salary for professional athletes in the UK varies widely, ranging from £20,000 to over £100,000 per year, depending on the sport and level of competition.

Number of Professional Athletes

There are estimated to be around 2,000 to 3,000 full-time professional athletes across all sports in the UK.

Career Longevity

The average professional sporting career lasts about 8 to 15 years, with many athletes retiring in their 30s.

🚀 Careers in this path

Professional Footballer

A sportsperson who plays football at a competitive level, often for a club in a professional league.

Tennis Player

A professional athlete who competes in tennis tournaments, either as an individual or as part of a doubles team.

Rugby Union Player

A professional sports player who competes in rugby union matches, representing a club or national team.

Develop Core Skills and Passion

Choose Your Sport

Pick a sport you are passionate about and start participating from a young age.

Explore different sports offered at your school or local clubs to find the one you enjoy most. Early exposure helps you develop basic skills and a love for the sport. Commitment and enthusiasm are important at this stage, as they will keep you motivated through challenges.

Develop Fundamental Skills

Work on your physical fitness and the fundamental techniques needed for your chosen sport.

Join junior teams, take part in school competitions, and seek coaching to develop your basic skills. Good athletes focus on strength, agility, endurance, and sport-specific techniques. Feedback from coaches and practising regularly will help you improve.

Compete and Gain Recognition

Join a Club or Academy

Become a member of a local club or sports academy to access better coaching and facilities.

Clubs and academies provide structured training, opportunities for competition, and access to experienced coaches. This environment encourages you to push your limits and learn advanced skills. Look for clubs with a good reputation in your sport.

Enter Competitions

Take part in local, regional, and national competitions to test your skills against others.

Competing regularly helps you gain experience and build resilience. Performing well in tournaments can also attract the attention of scouts, coaches, and sponsors. Keep track of your achievements and continue to set higher goals.

Pursue Professional Opportunities

Seek Representation or Sponsorship

Find an agent, manager, or sponsor who can help you progress to the professional level.

Having representation can open doors to professional teams, contracts, and endorsement deals. Sponsorships can also provide financial support, equipment, and training resources. Network with professionals in your sport to learn about opportunities.

Maintain Peak Performance

Continue training, look after your health, and stay focused to compete at the highest level.

Professional athletes must follow strict training regimes, maintain a balanced diet, and work with physiotherapists or sports psychologists. Injuries and setbacks are common, so resilience and discipline are crucial. Keep setting new goals to stay motivated.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Athlete/Professional Player. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

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Sample Qualifications

An Athlete/Professional Player is most similar to a Sports professional because both roles involve competing at a high level within a sport, requiring physical skill, training, and expertise. They often share similar career pathways, including participation, development, and sometimes transitioning into related roles within the sports industry.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • amateur sport where you could be spotted by a talent scout
  • a sponsorship or scholarship scheme

Apprenticeship

The Sporting Excellence Professional, advanced apprenticeship is available in the following sports:

  • cricket
  • football
  • rugby league
  • rugby union

The apprenticeship gives talented amateur sports players the chance to develop their sporting talent alongside their education.

Once you've completed your apprenticeship, you may turn professional or continue as an amateur while you get more experience.

You can find out more from the professional body for each sport.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

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Other Routes

The route to becoming a professional varies from sport to sport.

Typically you'll start by joining a club, academy or amateur organisation where you can train and get coaching.

Most sports professionals are spotted early on by talent scouts at this stage.

In some sports you may be able to get financial help to develop your sporting talent as well as to continue your general education.

You can find out more about different schemes through Sport England.

Your chosen sport's National Governing Body (NGB) is the best place to get more information on the way to get ahead in your sport.

More Information

Career tips

Some professional sports careers can be quite short, so it's useful to have plans for what you will do when you can no longer play or compete.

Further information

You can get more details on what it takes to become a professional sportsperson from Sport England.

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