Track and Field Athlete

Track or field athletes compete in such sports as running, high jump, long jump, hurdles, pole-vaulting, throwing the discus or javelin, or putting the shot.

The Work

You could be:

• spending most of your time in training and working closely with your coach


• working with a support team which could also include your manager, diet expert and perhaps sports scientists and a sports psychologist


• taking part in athletics competitions


• looking after your own sports equipment


• helping to train other athletes


• spending time looking for sponsorship and financial support


• attending events held by any companies which sponsor you.

Conditions

• You would spend long hours training, both indoors and outdoors – you might be outdoors in all weathers.


• You would often travel to competitions and sometimes spend overnights and weekends away from home.


• Injury might end your career unexpectedly.

Getting In

• You must be exceptionally good at your chosen sport.


• You could start by joining a club with a good coach, and training until you become good enough to represent your club in local amateur competitions.


• If you are very good at athletics (running, jumping, throwing) you could apply for a place at Glasgow School of Sport, Bellahouston Academy. You can join in S1, S3, S5 or S6. You must apply before mid to late December of the year before you hope to start. Your coach or school physical education teacher must support you, as well as your head teacher. You have to do selection tests including practical assessments, an interview and a medical.


• If you become a successful amateur, you may turn professional or semi-professional.


• You need a lot of time to train, and will have little time to earn a living, so you must try to find professional sponsorship – you should try to find an agent to arrange sponsorship deals for you.


• Some universities, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, Heriot Watt, Robert Gordon, Stirling and Strathclyde offer sports bursaries to help with costs.


• The Scottish Institute of Sport at Stirling University runs a high performance coaching scheme for talented young people.


• sportscotland offers Athlete Support funding, normally distributed through the national governing body.


• You must be very fit.

What Does It Take?

You need to be:

• dedicated and ambitious


• self-motivated and self-disciplined


• very competitive


• willing to take advice from coaches


• able to cope with the pressures of competing.

• endurance and stamina


• self belief


• strength and resilience


• teamwork skills.

Training

• You would train most days, often with your coach.


• Training includes general fitness training and practice of your own sport.

Getting On

• You would probably start by representing your club in local events.


• You might then progress to national and perhaps international events – possibly even the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics.


• As more people hear about you, you will find it easier to get sponsorship and advertising contracts.


• Your career will be short and so you must plan for a second career afterwards. If you want to stay in sport, sports journalism or broadcasting might be possibilities.

Pay

Your income will be irregular and variable because it depends on sponsorship, advertising and commercial interests.

A few top athletes can earn high incomes, but you may have to support yourself with part time work.

More Information

There is a growing interest in track and field sports:

• because London will host the Olympics in 2012


• because Glasgow will host the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.