| Did the Superbowl have you pining for your glory | | | | all-star running back or center fielder. Talent |
| days on the football field? You are probably not | | | | scouts usually get their start being part-time |
| alone. With just a small percentage of student | | | | talent spotters for their specific district or |
| athletes making it to the pros, most hang up their | | | | territory. |
| cleats after graduation and head to a self-imposed | | | | Career #3: Athletic Trainer |
| exile in corporate America. But just because you | | | | Before professional athletes take the field, they |
| didn't become the next Brett Favre doesn't mean | | | | need to be in perfect physical condition. That's |
| you're out of the game. If sports are your | | | | where athletic trainers come in. These sports |
| passion, there are plenty of careers that can let | | | | professionals work with both college and |
| you do what you love on the field, on the court, | | | | professional athletes to help prevent and treat |
| or in the rink every day (and get paid for it). | | | | sports injuries. They also create workout |
| Career #1: Coach | | | | programs based on an athlete's specific position |
| Coaching allows you to stay involved in your | | | | and needs to optimize their body's potential. |
| favorite sport and pass your passion on to the | | | | Career #4: Referee |
| next generation. While the coveted professional | | | | Have you always wanted to be the one to call |
| and college positions are up at the top of the | | | | the shots? Referees, umpires and sports officials |
| mountain, you can start your climb in middle | | | | get to be a part of the game by officiating at |
| school, high school, city travel, AAU (Amateur | | | | sporting events. Most often they've played the |
| Athletic Union), or prep school leagues. Typically, | | | | sport, which gives them insider and extensive |
| these coaches teach full-time and coach part-time, | | | | knowledge into the rules and regulations. They are |
| so if you're already a teacher or thinking about | | | | also licensed to act as an official in a particular |
| becoming a teacher, you're on your way. In | | | | sports, as licensing requirements are different for |
| addition to having your teaching certification, most | | | | each sport and locality. A great way to get |
| high school coaches need a state coaching and | | | | started is to referee at the intramural or |
| CPR certification. | | | | recreational level. |
| Career #2: Talent Scout | | | | Career #5: Sports Journalist |
| Do you follow your town's high school basketball, | | | | Sports journalists get to watch their favorite |
| football or baseball team? Do you know the | | | | sports and get paid for it. What could be better |
| players, the line up and the stats like the back of | | | | than that? If you've got a love of the game and |
| your hand? Being a freelance talent scout might | | | | a love for pen and paper (or laptops and |
| be perfect for you. Freelance scouts know their | | | | Microsoft Word, as the case may be), being a |
| region's players so well that they're a valuable | | | | sports journalist could be a great way to |
| asset to college coaches looking for the next | | | | integrate sports into your career. |