Thinking of a career as a professional sportsperson?

Travis Head, after a wonderful world cup campaign for Australia in India was snapped up to play in the Indian Premier League for several million dollars. Many of us dream of this sort of success. Playing the sport we love and being well rewarded for it!

If we love our sport and we are good at it why shouldn't see how far we can take it? We only live once after all. But isn't it far too risky? Not if you cover your bases with good career planning. Most of us have a vague sense of the risks of chasing the sporting dream.

Firstly, there is no denying that we defy the odds if we make it big. The NCAA in the United States provides 3.7 Billion dollars worth of scholarships for young sportspeople across the world. Recipients can receive a free college or university degree, board, textbooks in combination with top level coaching and other sporting support to give you every chance of making it as a pro. However, even within the NCAA, only 2% of college athletes make it as major league professionals. Fortunately the NCAA has a built in security plan because athletes can leave with a college or university degree regardless of whether they go onto professional sporting careers. Australian universities provide some support for elite athletes but it is more modest. Remember though that there are lower levels of professional sport where people can still earn a good living while doing what they love.

The second risk many of us are aware of is injuries. Injuries are a real possibility to interrupt or end our sporting careers no matter how good we are. This could mean long periods on the sidelines or the end of a sporting career. So again, athletes who are studying or who have another paid career or even volunteer work at least have some consolation during these times - a healthy and constructive second string to their bow. This is one of the reasons that many AFL clubs encourage their players to study or have a part time job.

Another risk some of us are aware of in sports careers is that most top sporting careers are finished by our mid thirties if we are lucky to go on that long. Yes Phil Mickelson won the USPGA in his 50's, US Quarterback Tom Brady was still starring in his 40's, and Serena and Roger played into their 40's in tennis. So with improvements in conditioning careers can last longer too. But longer sports careers tend to be the exception, and the media starts to pay more attention to inevitable drops in performance once an athlete his 30. Many athletes struggle when they retire. There is grief associated with a loss of identity, missed team relationships, the withdrawal of the cheering crowds and sometimes enormous drops in income. So again, those athletes who have cultivated a second career through study or work have a much softer landing to buffer the shock of retirement.

So how to go about career planning while chasing a professional sporting career? Start early. If you start planning early you can chip away at a qualification and either have a qualification when you retire or be well on the way to one. This is where the NCAA pathway is such a good one. Choose a course or job that is complementary to your sporting dreams. If it's a course it needs to be flexible enough to fit in your sporting commitments. Jobs too should have some flexibility. British Open Champion Cameron Smith, recently mentioned on the Straight Talk podcast that he would stack shelves before practicing golf and then stack shelves again after he practiced golf https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/158-cam-smiths-new-chapter-aussie-golf-icon-on-illustrious/id1572546872?i=1000677665054.

Phil Mickelson showed sporting careers can last into your 50's but its the exception

If you play it smart, you can hedge your bets and pursue your dream, while building a soft landing in case you need it. Make a booking if you are a sports person with the dream to make it as a pro but you want want a back up plan.