Sports Pro

How A Sports Scholarship Can Lead To An Athletic Career

Receiving an athletic scholarship is probably the most popular avenue that professional football and basketball players take to get started in their careers. While it is not the only way to join the pros, it is generally the easiest. After all, with the visibility of college sports, recruiters don’t have to look far to see who the standout players are. College players that make the news are often household names, and people want to see more of these players once their college careers are over.

But there are other ways to become a professional athlete. Not everyone receives a scholarship – some students are paying their own way and simply join the team as a walk-on. Smaller schools may not even offer scholarships, but highly talented players can still make a name for themselves.

Other scholarship recipients in less popular sports can still launch their careers at the college level. In sports such as wrestling, track, swimming or even shooting sports, athletes may qualify for the Olympics during their college years, which can provide an extraordinary opportunity. Although the competition is fierce, the Olympics are so highly visible that a virtual nobody can become a household name literally overnight. An athlete does not even need to be a gold medalist to gain instant recognition.

But even for those who dream of competing professionally, injuries and other life events can make this impossible. A sports scholarship can still help make a college degree affordable. By choosing the right major and making the right connections, students can still have a sports-related career after graduation. The key is to make the best use of every opportunity that a scholarship presents. Many go one to become broadcasters, journalists, commentators, coaches, and even sports doctors and lawyers.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Ralph Nader, Scholarship, Sport

MakingThe Most Of Your Athletic Career With A Sports Agent

How do athletes and former athletes manage to make tens of millions of dollars through related business opportunities? The answer is that they usually have a good agent working for them. When looking for an agent, it’s important to find someone who is not only experienced in finding and negotiating viable business opportunities, but also in knowing what can go wrong and working to protect your best interests.

It seems as though an athletic career paying millions of dollars per year in salary should be a great opportunity that can set a person up for life. Unfortunately, many athletes think it is just that, and soon find themselves in financial trouble. This is where a good sports agent can make a difference. Competent agents realize that athletic careers are relatively short compared to other lines of work. Because a person does not usually play a sport for 30 or 40 years like a traditional career, they don’t receive millions of dollars in income for that amount of time either.

Agents can find money-generating opportunities, and can negotiate contracts that provide residual income for a longer period of time. These can include everything from endorsements, public speaking engagements, book deals, advertising, licensed merchandise and even commentating or acting opportunities. While many athletes feel they can strike these deals on their own and may hesitate at paying an agent’s fee, the fact is that there are many multi-millionaire athletes who file for bankruptcy due to bad business deals, fishy investment opportunities and failure to read the fine print.

Good agents are familiar with “opportunities” that prey on people who find themselves suddenly wealthy. A competent and trustworthy agent can make the difference between a career as an athlete and an opportunity that can provide residual income for life.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Career, Sports law

Why Do Colleges Spend So Much On Athletic Scholarships?

Athletic scholarships are a necessity for colleges: There is no other way for schools with the top teams to recruit the best players without providing financial assistance in return. When colleges can recruit the best of the best, they can keep their teams performing well, which is important to colleges on many levels.

College sports generate millions of dollars in revenue. Not only are ticket and merchandise sales important, but successful sports teams keep a college’s reputation high. This means that they can always recruit not only the best athletes, but a higher caliber of students as well.

Successful sports teams and all that are associated with them (for instance, marching bands and coaches) help colleges maintain their visibility and reputation. Without being able to recruit top talent, sports programs would quickly cease to be the draw that they are. When players go on to achieve success in professional sports, it improves the school’s reputation. For this reason, colleges can have deep pockets when it comes to making scholarship offers to those who show exceptional promise.

Another reason colleges are willing to foot the bill for top athletes is to maintain their relationships with alumni. Alumni are some of the largest supporters of college sports. Outside of tuition payments, alumni are also one of higher education’s largest sources of income. Many alumni donate millions to their alma maters when they have successful seasons. Colleges also know that when a former student graduates and starts earning a significant income, it is very likely that he or she will also make significant donations. The college then receives a substantial return on its investment in student athletes. While colleges don’t necessarily rely on donations from their athletic alumni, they are usually the most visible and enthusiastic spokespeople in the sports community.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: College athletics, Sport, Student athlete

Career Possibilities For Sports Lovers

For those who love the daily involvement with athletes and the game, an appropriate career path might be coaching or training. Positions such as these usually require some sort of sports credential such as high achievement (holding a record, being known as an innovator, winning a championship) but not always. Some people find they have a gift for assisting others effectively even though they were not necessarily a star player. Coaching positions at the high school level usually require a degree in education or other teaching credentials.

Sports management is another option for those who love the world of sports but who do not necessarily want to earn their living as an athlete. A background in sports is helpful as well as a degree in business or marketing for those who want to work in promotion, marketing, management or other administrative positions. Specialized degrees such as law degrees and MBAs can lead to lucrative positions as agents, contract lawyers and others who deal with high-profile issues.

Those with a scientific or technical interest are often drawn to careers in sports medicine, which can be anything from treating injuries, rehabilitation or training and nutrition. People with degrees and experience in sports medicine are sought after not only to assist athletes directly, but also for positions in product research and development. These products can include sports equipment, nutritional supplements, specialized clothing, or developing educational materials and curricula.

Sports merchandise is a billion dollar industry with virtually no limits for someone who is creative, innovative and has a passion for sports. Many people have forged sports-related careers working for international companies or creating their own line of products. These could include licensed products marketed to the public, or products designed by and for athletes. With a bit of creative thinking, almost any educational background can be turned into a sports-related career.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Education, Sport management, Sport Medicine

Sports Event Etiquette for Parents

Sporting Event Etiquette for Parents

1. It is very easy to get emotional when your kid is on the field and you’re watching intensely from the bench. Etiquette at sporting events is not a given. Parents have been banned from games and for poor behavior. Sporting event etiquette helps kids see that they are supported regardless of whether they hit the winning run or strike out.

2. Mind Your Conversation

A display of good etiquette includes watching what we say while we cheer Junior on from the stands. Mumbling obscenities about the opposing team or their coach is not good etiquette. Cheering your kid on is always good acknowledging good plays by other kids shows you’re not creating a sports monster in your household.

3. Bring Healthy and Tasty Treats

Parents know that with group activities comes the need for snacks. When it is your turn bring good treats that are healthy. Kids will drink just about anything a cooler with reduced sugar or better yet ice cold water are healthy choices. Fruit provides natural sugar and stave off hunger until the after game pit stop for the pizza.

4. Carpools

One way to reserve time and energy is to carpool with other parents. This way you are not doing all the driving and the responsibility rotates. Etiquette in this situation demands that you mark your calendar for all sporting related events and activities that your kid participates in along, with any associated cost. If you simply have to cancel when it is your turn to pick up kids that don’t live with you and you’re going to be late or have to cancel make contact. It is important to communicate when you’re the driver.

5. Sports Etiquette

It may sound corny, but good sports etiquette can be good for the entire family. Talking about the game afterwards and making sure your kid knows that he is supported for every bad throw and caught ball alike, is real life etiquette inclusive of sports.

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Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Etiquette, Relationships, Sport

Popular Ways to Enjoy the Big Game

For many people in our fast-paced American society, having an activity to do on a regular basis that allows you to unwind is crucial to staying focused and efficient in life. Among one of the most popular and like ways that people tend to go when looking for a way to unwind is by participating in America’s favorite pastime: sports. Americans have been enjoying sports for many decades, and with the advances in technology and an increase of innovative products readily available, there are more ways to enjoy the big game than ever before. Here are the most popular:

Solo in Recliner

Going this route is probably one of the most relaxing; enjoying the game alone while kicking back in a favorite recliner. This method of watching the big game is probably the most stereotypical, but it does not stop it from being one of the most popular nonetheless.

Throw a Party

One of the more popular ways to watch major sporting events is to have a party or gathering of friends and colleagues. These situations are prime for creating a fun, social atmosphere while simultaneously enjoying every aspect of the game as it unfolds. Some people go the route of providing items such as custom poker tables to gather around and play a few hands during a commercial break, or even throughout the game to promote a more engaging atmosphere.

Online Live Streams

Since the inception of the Internet, many things have been made available via a computer. Over the past decade, the concept of viewing sporting events has become a favorite among these readily available items. People can watch their favorite sporting events as they are streamed live online, or catch them after the fact if they were too busy to watch them live.

From classic to innovative, these are the most common ways people enjoy watching sports.

Filed Under: Sports Betting, Sports Gear Tagged With: Cable television, Game, Sport

Improving Your Odds of Receiving A Sports Scholarship

One of the best ways for students to boost their chances of receiving a sports scholarship is to think of it in athletic terms – in other words, treat it as you would any other competition. This means applying athletic principles such as goal setting, developing a strategy and following through with discipline.

There is always a certain percentage of players who are offered scholarships based solely on their athletic abilities. However, another group receives scholarships because they are able to break down the process and score well on other areas of the application. These students understand that colleges are usually looking for other talents and abilities in addition to skills on the field.

Determining what a college is looking for should be the first line of attack. It should go without saying that even though they want accomplished athletes, they also recruit students who demonstrate that they are likely to succeed in school and who will build good community relations. Candidates should keep this in mind when choosing extracurricular and community service activities. Not only do they help sway scholarship committees, but applicants can develop relationships with people who can provide letters of recommendation for colleges. Strategizing about the most effective experiences and influential references can help give an applicant an edge over someone who simply goes through the motions and hopes for the best.

Of course, good grades are always helpful. When student athletes participate in more than one sport or activity, it can be difficult to give athletics and academics their full effort. This is another example of how strategizing can improve the outcome. Develop a game plan for how to fit all your responsibilities into a limited amount of time. It might be necessary to come up with a written schedule, but a disciplined athlete should find it no problem to stick to a regimen that will lead to greater results.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Scholarship, Student, Student athlete

Are Sports Scholarships Always A Ticket to Professional Sports?

A full-ride sports scholarship can mean a free ticket to college, an all-expenses paid trip to a four year degree. After adding up the cost of four years of college tuition, dorms, meal cards and books, it is almost like getting paid thousands of dollars to play one’s favorite sport for four years.

Players who are the best of the best may have several offers and may have to determine which offer is going to give them the greatest long-term benefit in terms of a sports career.

For athletes who are not at the very top, but are still very good, playing in the most prestigious divisions may be out of reach. At best, athletes may receive a scholarship in the division they want but not at their first choice school. Likewise, they may be offered a scholarship at a college in the geographic area they prefer, but not within the conference they would like.

Finally, there are athletes who were standouts at the high school and state level who will not be competitive at NCAA or Division 1 colleges. This does not necessarily mean that sports can’t pay their way through college. These students may have their choice of smaller local schools, which can still result in a professional career.

Not everyone who gets an athletic scholarship will become a professional athlete. While most pro football and basketball players take this path, there is no hard and fast rule that says this is the only way to go pro. There are a number of pros who went to small schools and received no scholarship at all. If playing sports professionally is the goal, it’s important to start the research process early and to carefully evaluate the odds of being a competitive player at the desired level.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: College athletics, Scholarship, Sport

The Importance of Specific Triathlon Gear

A triathlon requires some of the most intense physical experiences of a lifetime. Each and every person has a unique perspective on how important this competition is, but for most, it is a situation requiring every bit of physical power you have. To improve your ability to perform at your best level, invest in specialized triathlon gear.

The Bike

One of the most important pieces of triathlon gear is the bike itself. While this is only one leg of the competition, the features of the bike make a big difference in your success level. Here are a few ways these bikes can better fit your body.

Manufacturers creating customized bikes will cut and measure these bikes to the rider’s body. This way, each area of the bike fits the rider ideally.
The bike’s handlebars fit your needs, too. With the right location and design of the handlebars, you can become more aerodynamic in your performance.
Even the small details make a big difference. The bike’s water bottle location, for example, can be fit to your body’s needs in terms of location and design.

While bikes are an important component to your performance, it’s also important to select other types of triathlon gear with care. Select the right swimsuits, for example, to increase your speed and physical ability to perform. Even the right cycling shoes and shoelaces play a role in your success in this competition.

You can find all of the gear you need at a specialized triathlon store. These facilities work with you to custom design a bike or other gear for your particular needs. This way, when you hit the competition’s starting line, you are doing so with the best overall setup possible. You will find these events to be physically demanding, but that is what makes them so worthwhile. With the right equipment, your body can perform at its highest level possible, moving you forward.

Filed Under: Sports, Sports Gear Tagged With: Cycling, Triathlon, Triathlon Training