Athletes – NOC : 5251

Unit Group

5251 Athletes

Athletes participate in competitive sports events on an amateur or professional basis. They play team sports such as hockey, baseball, football and lacrosse; or compete in individual sports such as skiing, figure skating, boxing or track and field; or in games such as poker or chess. Athletes are employed by professional team organizations or they may be self-employed. This unit group also includes competitors such as chess players and poker players.

Example Titles

athlete

baseball player

boxer

figure skater

football player

golfer

harness race driver

hockey player

jockey

professional athlete

skier

sprinter

track athlete

View all titles

Main duties

Athletes perform some or all of the following duties:

Train under the direction of a coach or trainer to qualify for competition
Attend scheduled practice and training sessions
Participate in local, regional, provincial, national or international competitions and sporting events
Assess performance after an event to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Employment requirements

Demonstrated ability in a particular sport, or type of game, is required.
Extensive training under the supervision of a coach is required.
Certification with a particular sports federation may be required.
A background combining athletic training and college or university studies is strongly recommended.

Classified elsewhere

Coaches (5252)
Sports instructors (in 5254 Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness )
Sports officials and referees (5253)