National Occupation Code (NOC): 5251

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.

Job Duties for Athletes

• 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.

Working Conditions for Athletes

Work may be performed indoors or outdoors, depending on the sport. Most sports are high-intensity physical activities and require frequent training.

Alternate Job Titles

• Amateur Athlete
• Archer
• Athlete
• Automobile Racer
• Badminton Player
• Baseball Player
• Basketball Player
• Billiard Player
• Bowler
• Boxer
• Canoeist
• Chess Player
• Chuckwagon Driver
• Chuckwagon Racer - Stampede
• Competitor - Chess
• Competitor - Gambling
• Coxswain
• Curler
• Cyclist
• Demolition Driver
• Discus Thrower
• Diver - Olympic Sport
• Fencer
• Figure Skater
• Football Player
• Footballer
• Gamer - Video Games
• Golf Player
• Golfer
• Gymnast
• Hammer Thrower
• Handball Player
• Harness Race Driver
• Harness Racing Driver
• Helmsman - Sports
• Hockey Player
• Javelin Thrower
• Jockey
• Judoka
• Jumper
• Pentathlete
• Ping-pong Player
• Poker Player
• Prize Fighter
• Professional Athlete
• Professional Boxer
• Professional Pool Player
• Professional Sportsman/woman
• Race Car Driver
• Rider
• Rodeo Performer
• Rower
• Sailboarder
• Short-distance Runner
• Shot Put
• Skater
• Skier
• Snowboarder
• Soccer Player
• Sprinter
• Stampede Performer
• Stampede Racer
• Standardbred Pacer
• Stock Car Racer
• Sulky Driver
• Swimmer
• Table Tennis Player
• Tennis Player
• Track Athlete
• Volleyball Player
• Water-polo Player
• Weight-lifter
• Wrestler
• Amateur Athlete
• Archer
• Athlete
• Automobile Racer
• Badminton Player
• Baseball Player
• Basketball Player
• Billiard Player
• Bowler
• Boxer
• Canoeist
• Chess Player
• Chuckwagon Driver
• Chuckwagon Racer - Stampede
• Competitor - Chess
• Competitor - Gambling
• Coxswain
• Curler
• Cyclist
• Demolition Driver
• Discus Thrower
• Diver - Olympic Sport
• Fencer
• Figure Skater
• Football Player
• Footballer
• Gamer - Video Games
• Golf Player
• Golfer
• Gymnast
• Hammer Thrower
• Handball Player
• Harness Race Driver
• Harness Racing Driver
• Helmsman - Sports
• Hockey Player
• Javelin Thrower
• Jockey
• Judoka
• Jumper
• Pentathlete
• Ping-pong Player
• Poker Player
• Prize Fighter
• Professional Athlete
• Professional Boxer
• Professional Pool Player
• Professional Sportsman/woman
• Race Car Driver
• Rider
• Rodeo Performer
• Rower
• Sailboarder
• Short-distance Runner
• Shot Put
• Skater
• Skier
• Snowboarder
• Soccer Player
• Sprinter
• Stampede Performer
• Stampede Racer
• Standardbred Pacer
• Stock Car Racer
• Sulky Driver
• Swimmer
• Table Tennis Player
• Tennis Player
• Track Athlete
• Volleyball Player
• Water-polo Player
• Weight-lifter
• Wrestler