Chart shows just how hard it is to become a professional athlete (2024)

FAQs

How hard is it to become a professional athlete? ›

The difficulty of becoming a professional athlete goes beyond the time commitment. It involves intense physical training, mental resilience, and the ability to perform consistently at the highest level. Athletes often face fierce competition, injury risks, and setbacks along the way.

Fewer than 2 percent of NCAA student-athletes go on to be professional athletes. In reality, most student-athletes depend on academics to prepare them for life after college. Education is important. There are more than 460,000 NCAA student-athletes, and most of them will go pro in something other than sports.

Professional athletes face immense physical and mental demands daily. They must maintain peak physical fitness, pushing their bodies to the limits through rigorous training sessions and intense competitions. The physical toll can result in injuries, pain, and long-term health issues.

Soccer/Football – Soccer is the world's most popular sport, and the competition to become a professional is intense due to the vast number of players worldwide competing for limited spots in top leagues.

How much does a Professional Athlete make? As of Apr 10, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Professional Athlete in the United States is $25.88 an hour.

Like I mentioned before 1% of NCAA athletes go pro. Think about it–that's one Division One athlete out of one-hundred Division One athletes that get the chance to live out their dream.

However, age of entry into elite sport (including both professional sporting codes and Olympic level sports) can differ significantly according to sport type, and in some circ*mstances, athletes transitioning into elite sport may comprise those aged under 12 years or 18 years or older [41] .

It is very difficult to enter this career field. According to the NCAA, only 1.9% of NCAA college football players will end up playing professional football. Make sure that you have a back up plan!

Do many NCAA student-athletes go on to play professionally? Of the student-athletes participating in college sports with professional leagues, less than 2% become professional athletes. In reality, most student-athletes depend on academics to prepare them for life after college. Education is important.

How many kids become professional athletes? ›

4% of high school players will go pro. When faced with those odds, some parents feel that the best way to ensure their child is successful is by starting them early, consistently pushing them to perform and making every possible investment in their child's athletic career.

Chess – Chess is often considered one of the most mentally challenging sports, as players must think multiple moves ahead, anticipate their opponent's strategies, and maintain concentration over long games.

They believe that male athletes who excel in endurance and explosive sports may be perceived as more attractive when they perform well, while female athletes who excel in flexibility and muscle control may be seen as more attractive when they perform well.

In each measure athletes had higher academic performance than nonathletes. “For the most part there were significant differences among the athlete and nonathlete populations,” Achen said. “It showed to be true among all groups analyzed that being an athlete helped them persist.”

Extensive experience (in elementary and high school and in college sports) and a track record of high performance in their sport are required to become a professional athlete. Professional athletes should begin learning their sport early, probably in elementary school or high school.

How long does it takes to become a professional athlete? It takes typically 4-6 years to become a professional athlete. Year 1-4: Athletes often start their journey without a formal education requirement, focusing on skill development and competition.