That doesn’t mean you need to give up on your dreams of working within the sporting or fitness industry. As an amateur footballer, you’ll have a set of skills that can be invaluable in various sports, health, fitness and wellbeing roles.
It may help to consider what elements of being a footballer you enjoy the most. This could be planning your diet to achieve peak fitness, working on strengthening certain muscles or even working out the fastest and safest ways to come back after an injury. All of these interests can lead you to different sports-related careers if you want them to.
Sports Therapist
A sports therapist helps people with sporting injuries to recover. They provide support and treatment to aid recovery using techniques like sports massage and other manual therapies. You’ll be working as a part of a wider team who will focus on the medical and mental aspects of recovery to help people overcome their injuries successfully. With experience and extra training, you may be able to seek employment with some of the top football teams in the country. Alternatively, you can offer your services to paying customers as a self-employed sports therapist.
Nutritionist
Nutritionists help their customers to make the right choices in their diets, helping them get fitter and healthier. You could work as a general nutritionist or take further training to specifically advise athletes on their diets. Being a footballer will be invaluable in this role, as you will already have an idea of which foods are best for improving performance, both before physical activity and to maintain general health.
Coach
Coaching could be the perfect job for you if you’re good at assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a team and developing strategies to help them improve. You could also consider a job coaching one-to-one with players new to the game. Generally, you’ll give demonstrations of proper form and technique and provide feedback to the team or individual you’re coaching. You’ll need excellent form yourself to be able to excel in this role, so it is best to take some formal training to ensure you can provide the best coaching.
Personal Trainer
As a footballer at any level, you will be in excellent physical fitness, with a training and exercise regimen of your own. If working out and achieving your own goals brings you a sense of satisfaction, then helping other people achieve theirs could be even more satisfying. Consider looking for a quality training provider who will be able to teach you how to help others work towards their fitness goals safely and effectively. The Fitness Group is an excellent example of what to look for, offering comprehensive accredited courses.
Referee
As a player, you’ll understand the rules of football very well. This can translate excellently into a career as a referee. Refs, like players, need to be in excellent physical condition with a sound and comprehensive understanding of the rules of football. Referees also need to be confident and able to stick to their guns, as disputes over calls can become heated. There are training programs available organised by both professional and amateur football leagues that can help you start a career as a football referee.
Writer
If you love watching football as well as playing it, then becoming a sports writer could be a great career choice. You’ll need good written skills, but you could become a freelance sports writer who can earn good side money. If your articles, commentary and match reviews are successful enough, you could build a portfolio and apply for a full-time writer’s job at a sports publication, website or blog.
Photographer
If you’re handy with a camera, then becoming a sports photographer could be a great way to combine your love of photography with your love of football. As someone knowledgeable about the game, you’ll know how to shoot the best images and capture the most important moments. You’ll also need a high-quality camera capable of shooting clear pictures of fast-paced action.
There is a lot of competition for the top jobs in sports photography, so you’ll need plenty of practice and the ability to shoot memorable and quality images. You are more likely to work as a freelancer in this career path, and it may take some time before you can earn your full living from sports photography.
Conclusion
While giving up your dream of becoming a professional football player may feel disappointing, there are still plenty of career paths you could take with your skills and expertise. Some will require a lot of formal education and training, while others you could pick up as a hobby until you get good enough to be paid for your work. Whatever you choose, ensure that you find the right fit which will give you a rewarding and lasting career.
