There are about 40,000 people employed in the various aspects of sport and leisure in Scotland but even if you are not a professional sportsman or woman you can still work in this career area.
The main sectors are
- Sports and recreation – coaching, teaching outdoor activities or health and fitness
- Sports or leisure management – running sports and leisure centres
- Sports performance – being a paid professional sportsperson
- Sports science – improving performance and preventing injuries
- Leisure – jobs in recreational centres such as bingo halls or fairgrounds.
Interest in sport in Scotland is growing, especially now that Glasgow will host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
To be a professional sportsperson you must be dedicated, determined and willing to persevere. To do well in other sport and recreational jobs, you should be
- enthusiastic and able to encourage anyone you might be coaching
- responsible and aware of safety
- able to deal with difficult people, who might be trying to cause trouble.
For many jobs in this career area you do not need academic qualifications. But you do need outstanding ability in sport. Getting a sports performance job can depend on being in the right place to be ‘spotted ’ by scouts or other influential people.