Your First Career

Inside the book and game of CareerBall: In many ways, sports are your first career. Some people have been lucky enough to just fall into the perfect job right as they finish their last minute of eligibility or leave their sport “for good.” But finding the right career need not depend solely on luck. Actively searching for the right career (often called a career plan) does require a great deal of preparation, planning, determination, and some luck. Career development is the processes of making good transition decisions in order to facilitate your dreams of a successful and rewarding career.

This is not to say that your participation in sports has been a waste of your time. For while you have been competing in athletics for most of your life, you’ve acquired many important skills and values that will serve you well in the future. It will serve you well to remember, though, that sports can be a dual-edged sword.

• On one side, sport can provide you with numerous opportunities to learn about yourself and others.
• On the other side, an exclusive commitment to sport can dominate your life so much that you won’t be prepared for any other activity.

You need to devote enormous amounts of time and energy to perfecting your athletic skills. If these efforts come at the expense of education or your preparation for other life activities, you may have nothing to turn to when you’re sport career ends.