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How difficult is it to become a professional athlete?

I'm a school counselor trying to see how this works. I may consider utilizing this at the start of each lesson and share the response at the end of class.

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Paul’s Answer

Only 1 in 250 go on to become a professional athlete.

That represents 0.4 percent of all the athletes in all the college divisions.

The chances of becoming a successful lawyer, college professor, or business owner are greater.
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Elizabeth’s Answer

Becoming a pro athlete is quite a challenge. You've got to be the cream of the crop in your sport, and also have a good head on your shoulders. I've noticed that top athletes often have a knack for public speaking, besides being fantastic at their game. While I'm not a pro athlete myself, I've observed many of them - some are great role models for young folks, while others, not so much.

Elizabeth recommends the following next steps:

Read a book on a professional athlete in a sport you excel at.
Research everything about the athlete (how they got to where they are)
Research coaches, managers, etc. about what they look for in athletes for their teams.
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Chris’s Answer

According to the Ohio State University, the odds of a high school football player going pro is .02% (https://u.osu.edu/groupbetaengr2367/junran-add-things-here-for-real) but that's not to say you shouldn't try! Most opportunities are made available to players in NCAA Division 1 schools, so focusing on your education in order to attend one of these schools is a good route.

Finally, you may find that the sports opportunities in larger colleges offer something else you're very good at! In college, I found bicycle racing, and went on to a semi-professional career that gave me the chance to travel all over the United States and even race in other countries.
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Alex’s Answer

Good question, I used to work at Nike with many ex-collegiate athletes and let me say it is VERY difficult. However, this difficulty is really dependent on many factors. For example, what sport is it and how competitive is it to play in that sport in that country in that league? People can play soccer professionally in a development league in another country for many years and be perfectly happy, but not make as much as they might in the US in the MLS.

The other reality is that the difficulty depends on the persons raw talents, connections, visibility to recruiters, and physical attributes (height, weight, fast-twitch muscles, etc).

Nike was comprised of so many people who tried to make it to the professional level or played for a year or two and then decided to get a career outside of being a professional athlete. This is also something worth mentioning to students, that many athletes decide they want to pursue another career at the end of their athletic career or as a break or as a result of getting injured.

Hopefully this is somewhat helpful!
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JOHN’s Answer

Hello:

Determination, perseverance, sacrifice, and lots of time go in the depths of even contemplating the potentials of pro sports. The weight training, informational depths to understand body control, playing skillsets, memory utilization, etc.

Extra info:
"How To Be An Elite Athlete, According To The Data":
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/12/22/948844752/how-to-be-an-elite-athlete-according-to-the-data

Thankful for every steps you present.

God Bless,

John German
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S’s Answer

Pursuing a career as a professional athlete is indeed a challenging and competitive journey. It demands a unique blend of extraordinary talent, unwavering dedication, strict discipline, and countless years of intensive training and experience. However, it's important to remember that only a select few athletes reach the professional ranks. Becoming a professional athlete isn't a path laden with shortcuts, but rather, it's a journey that calls for a level of commitment, sacrifice, and discipline that may seem unfamiliar to many. Yet, if you're ready to make those sacrifices and devote yourself to training and refining your skills, achieving your dream is absolutely within your reach.
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