What is a professional soccer player?
A professional soccer player is an athlete who plays soccer for a living. They undergo physical training, practice with their team and compete professionally during certain months out of the year. Typically, these athletes play for a club or a team to earn the classification of a professional soccer player.
What does a professional soccer player do?
While professional soccer players compete during the soccer season, they also have many other duties. Here are the common duties for a professional soccer player:
- Complete physical training
- Attend scheduled soccer practices
- Discuss strategies for competitive games
- Participate in exhibition matches
- Visit opposing teams
- Fulfill press obligations
Salary and job outlook for professional soccer players
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't report salary or job outlook data for professional soccer playera, it has data for athletes and sports competitors in general. According to the BLS, athletes and sports competitors make a median annual wage of $50,850. Keep in mind that a career as a professional soccer player may vary based on your team, your unique deal and your experience level.
The BLS also states that these professions can expect an employment growth of 38% from 2020 to 2030. This rate comes much faster than the average for other jobs in the workforce. The BLS expects about 3,400 job openings each year from 2020 to 2030 for these roles. This employment growth may come from population growth and a growing interest in professional sports. In addition, some sports leagues may enter new cities, allowing for a greater number of teams and job openings for professional athletes.
How to become a professional soccer player
To pursue a career as a professional soccer player, it's important to have a passion for the sport, have the skills to play the sport well and know how to portray this in front of a talent scout. Use these steps to become a professional soccer player:
1. Grow your passion for the sport
Before pursuing a career as a professional soccer player, make sure you love the game. Having a passion for the sport can help you through challenging moments you may face. It can also encourage you to succeed and help you work harder toward achieving your dreams and athletic career goals.
2. Learn the sport
Spend time learning about soccer so you're better prepared for this career. Consider reading books, watching soccer matches on TV and, if possible, conversing with other soccer players. While the reading and watching games can help you learn new techniques, the latter can give you added insight and help you determine whether you want to pursue this career. Doing this also helps you grow your knowledge of the sport and can help you feel more prepared for this career.
3. Train and practice regularly
Improve your soccer skills by training every day if possible. Training regularly may improve your physical and mental health. It can also help you learn new techniques and help you impress future scouts. Consider attending training camps as soon as you can. Some clubs or associates offer training camps and summer camps you may join. Getting involved in organized games or clubs can also help you grow as an athlete.
4. Use a club's resources
If you're a part of a club, take part in any of its trials, talent days and tryouts. Participating in these events can help you meet more people with the same career goals. This gives you a way to grow your network and follow up on leads for new opportunities. You can also ask if your club brings talent scouts so you can prepare for their visits.
5. Prepare to meet with talent scouts
Before meeting with a talent scout, consider your ability to play and your attitude overall. Have a strong sense of team spirit, help your teammates and show your passion for the sport. It's also important to remain calm and show your strengths as a soccer player when you're out on the field. This particularly helps if a talent scout attends a match.
Summary
To become a professional soccer player, cultivate your passion for the sport, continuously learn and improve your skills, and make use of club resources and opportunities to showcase your talent. With dedication and the right approach, you can increase your chances of realizing your dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
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