We may receive compensation when you click on product links from our partners. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
Last Updated on December 15, 2024
If you grew up with dreams of being an athlete, the chances are that you have big ideas of where you want your future to go. If you have had those dreams, and they have fallen short, you can still make it in the world of athletics – it just might look a little differently than you expected it to.
While you may still be getting help for chronic pain management from your doctor, with advice from Kevin Lucas, you should consider what else you can do to remain in the athletic world. You can still be passionate about something, even if you cannot participate the way you expected to be able to. You are already an exceptionally skilled person, but your skillset doesn’t just lie in being able to run fast or jump high. Below, we’ve got some alternative careers for the athletes out there who want to remain in the sports sphere.
Coach
Injured athletes can transition their on-field experience into a coaching career, guiding teams or individuals to success. Their understanding of the game, tactics, and player development gives them a unique edge in mentoring and strategizing for competitive performance.
Athletic Scout
With firsthand knowledge of what it takes to excel, injured athletes can identify and recruit talent for teams and organizations. This role allows them to leverage their experience to assess potential players and help shape the future of sports teams.
Injured athletes can thrive beyond the game. Explore fulfilling career paths like coaching, sports journalism, or fitness entrepreneurship. Turn setbacks into opportunities and build a new legacy. #CareerChange #AthleteLifeClick To TweetSports Marketing Specialist
Athletes can apply their passion for sports to promotional roles, helping brands connect with audiences. Their insider perspective enables them to create campaigns that resonate with fans, athletes, and sponsors, driving engagement and revenue.
Event Coordinator
Injured athletes can
Fitness Entrepreneur
Injured athletes can build businesses like gyms, fitness programs, or health products. Their personal journey offers authenticity, allowing them to inspire others while creating sustainable business opportunities within the fitness industry.
Sports Journalist
Athletes with a knack for storytelling can cover games, write analysis pieces, or provide commentary. Their direct experience and insights add credibility and depth to their coverage, engaging sports fans and industry professionals alike.
Resume review, cover letters and interview preparation. Learn about the critical mistakes you may be making in your resume and cover letters. Find out how to fix it and start getting job interviews.
Rehabilitation Specialist
Injured athletes often have a deep understanding of recovery processes and can guide others through rehabilitation. By sharing their knowledge, they can help others overcome injuries and regain strength, staying connected to the healthcare side of sports.
Equipment Designer
Injured athletes can use their experience to innovate and improve sports gear. They can collaborate with manufacturers to create products that enhance performance, safety, and comfort for other athletes, contributing to advancements in the industry.
PR Specialist
Everyone watches athletes compete and it’s not just the fans that are watching closely. The media watches every athlete and every single time they win or lose, they report on it. The only way an athlete can manage their image is with the help of an expert PR specialist. A public relations specialist works on controlling their reputation based on the image that the public has of them. It’s an important job in the sports world and teams are often willing to pay top dollars for exceptional PR specialists in the industry.
Our AI Job Interview Coach is designed to help you train and excel in any job interview from the comfort of your home. With personalized coaching and expert guidance, you'll be confidently prepared to make a lasting impression on your potential employer.
Sportscasters
You can miss playing sports, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep your head in the game. When you’re a sportscaster, you’re providing play-by-play commentary across TV and radio, offering professional opinions about the game and the athletes themselves.
Trainer
You might not want to go down this route if you’re in chronic pain, but it’s a good job if you want to be able to advise on the recovery of athletes across the board. The wage isn’t bad and you get a whole new insight into the world of athletics. You will be able to play the game in another way, through your clients, and be able to train them to be their best.
Sports Administrator
Athletes who want a fulfilling career will fit well as sports administrators. From high school to professional level, it’s a job that’s necessary. You will have to physically attend classes and learn how to do this, and it comes with a high salary. There are sports management degrees out there, too, which means that you can cement your future as an expert in the field.
This book is a firsthand account of a psychiatrist's training and practice. It covers topics such as the challenges of medical school, the stresses of residency, and the rewards of working with patients.
Sports Psychologist
There are a lot of injuries in athletics – as you know – and a sports psychologist is going to be able to treat athletes and keep them focused on their recovery and reducing their stress. It takes time to become a licensed psychologist, but it’s worth it once you get to the end and you get to work with some of the best out there.
