Become A Star Athlete To Earn Money With Sports - Online Income Generation, Income Growth Strategies, Freelancing Income  
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The dream of a lot of young people is to become a star athlete to earn money with sports. This desire is common because of the great prestige and wealth that is seen in the lives of popular sports men and women.

If you want to make it in sports, you have to be able to overcome the competition that exists and become the best in what you do. Stars are those who have learned the tricks of the trade and have risen above their contemporaries.

  • How to Succeed as a Star Athlete
  • What Are Some Careers Available in Sports?
  • Can You Earn Money From Sports?
  • How do Sports Stars Make Money?
  • What Sport Can Make You Money?
  • Can Amateur Athletes Make Money?
  • Which Athlete Makes The Most Money?
  • How College Athletes Make Money Off NIL
  • 5 Jobs Where Student Athletes Can Make Money
  • Which Sport Pays The Highest Salary?
  • How to Make Money as a Student Athlete in High School
  • Part-time Jobs For Student Athletes
  • How to Athletes Make Money After They Retire
  • NCAA Rules on Receiving Money
  • Do Olympians Get Paid For Life?
  • NIL NCAA
  • NIL College Sports
  • Do College Athletes Get Better Jobs?
  • How do College Athletes Make Money For Their School?
  • Can You Have a Job as a D1 Athlete?
  • Do Olympians Get Paid to Train?
  • Why Are Athletes Overpaid?

How to Succeed as a Star Athlete

The following are some of the factors that you have to think about.

Discover your natural abilities

It is possible to be good in lot of sports but you cannot possibly be the best at every one of them. You will have a better chance of succeeding if you put your focus on the sport that you are naturally suited to. It is vital to be passionate about what you do. When you are working on your passion, you will have more motivation and it will be easier to overcome obstacles.

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Work with determination

No matter how passionate you are about any sport, challenges will come your way if you want to become a star athlete to earn money with sports. A lot of talented athletes have been known to fail because of the obstacles that they could not overcome. A lot of determination will be required on your part. You will need a combination of focus, determination strong will and self discipline.

Do not cut back on training

Most star athletes started playing the game from a very young age. Long and intensive training sessions over several years are usually part of the success story of sports celebrities. Take as many lessons as you can and look for opportunities to improve your skills. The type of training that is necessary is dependent on your sport.

Know everything about your sport

You cannot afford to be ignorant of the rules of the game that you play. Your sport should be carefully studied because you have to understand the rules as well as the strategies. It is also vital to learn as many strategy variations as you can. You can learn a lot by watching videos of past games. Work on your strategies, look for weak areas and do your best to improve on them.

Take care of your body

When you become a star athlete that earns money with sports, your body is the equipment that you need for your trade. This means it must be properly cared for at all times. Find out the best type of diet for the type of sports that you do and stick to it. Good nutrition is essential if you want to keep your body healthy and strong.

Keep your weight within the ideal range for peak performance. It is also vital to have adequate rest regularly. Your body needs a lot of rest to recover from the physical exertions of each day. Fatigue can easily set in if you do not give your body enough rest.

What Are Some Careers Available in Sports?

Although the term “professional athlete” often evokes ideas of basketball, football, hockey, and soccer players, leading athletes in individual sports such as golf, horse racing, tennis, track and field, gymnastics, and auto racing can also generate large incomes and lucrative endorsement deals.

We will now look at some careers available in the sports industry that you can choose from and how much you can potentially earn from them.

Professional Soccer Player

Professional Soccer Player

Soccer has gained popularity in the United States with the emergence of the MLS. Soccer players must maintain high levels of aerobic conditioning to cope with the constant motion and fast pace of their sport. Regular practice is required to maintain and upgrade ball-handling and passing skills and to execute game plans.

Average salaries for MLS players on various teams ranged from $300,970 to $902,410 in 2018, still a far cry from the average salary for players in European leagues like England’s Premier League where players commonly earned in excess of 3 million dollars per year. There is also a huge difference between what professional male and female soccer players earn in the US, with the women trailing the men by a significant amount.

Professional Basketball Player

Professional Basketball Player

Competing as a professional basketball player involves much more than playing in scheduled games. Successful players maintain rigorous exercise and weight training regimens to achieve the top conditioning necessary for competitive performance in fast-paced games.

Players practice regularly with their team and work on individual shooting and ball-handling skills on their own. The National Basketball Association (NBA) season includes 82 regular-season games as well as several rounds of playoffs for winning teams, so players are subjected to a challenging travel routine in addition to the physical demands of the sport.

According to Basketball Reference, NBA players will earn an average salary of  $7,422,823 in 2018-19, making them the highest paid athletes. NBA rosters include fewer players than baseball and football teams, allowing franchises to devote more resources to recruiting players. Players typically sign guaranteed contracts so that even if they become injured or are cut from a team, they still receive their compensation.

Top players in the most prominent international basketball leagues in places like Spain, Greece, Italy, China, and Argentina also garner high salaries exceeding 1 million dollars, though the average player receives much lower compensation.

Sports Agents

Sports Agents

Sports agents represent the interests of athletes, coaches, managers, and other talents in the sports industry. They analyze data and statistics to prepare presentations about the value added by players to their teams.

Agents negotiate contracts and propose contract language. Sports agents advise clients about opportunities for endorsements and ways to enhance or repair their public image. They pitch the services of their clients to prospective employers. Many sports agents help clients to manage their finances.

Agents earned an average of $104,530 in May 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, Forbes Magazine reported that the top 10 sports agents earned over 30 million dollars a year.

Sports Broadcaster

Sports Broadcaster

Sports broadcasters announce live sporting events and provide commentary and analysis of teams and athletes. They prepare for broadcasts by researching and studying the performance of athletes, as well as stories of personal interest.

The emergence of sports television and radio networks like ESPN, Fox Sports, and NBC Sports has created opportunities for hosts on sports talk shows as well as sports highlights and news broadcasts. Successful hosts develop interesting takes on current sporting trends and personalities and often introduce an element of humor into their broadcasts.

The top 10 leading sportscasters earn an average of over 5 million dollars (2017). The vast majority of sportscasters receive more modest compensation while working in less prominent positions, earning an average of $106,080 in 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Professional Baseball Player

Professional Baseball Player

Successful Major League Baseball (MLB) players have implemented rigorous off-season training programs to improve strength and flexibility. The MLB season contains 162 games, as well as several rounds of playoffs, so players must cope with a taxing travel schedule.

Many experts believe that hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult tasks in sports, requiring players to practice their batting skills to maintain an edge continually.

MLB players averaged an annual salary of 4.52 million in 2018. Backed by a strong union, players are afforded the security of guaranteed contracts and a generous pension program. Most of the professional baseball players in the United States play for one of over 240 minor league teams.

They receive much lower compensation, between $1,000 – $3,000 per month, with no guarantee that they will ever make the big league team. However, the top 100 players drafted from college or high school receive bonuses ranging from $500,000 to two million dollars.

Sports Coach

Sports Coach

Roles and compensation for coaches vary greatly by the level of competition (e.g., high school, college, minor league, professional) and the particular sport. Coaches organize practice sessions to develop or strengthen skills and strategies. They also analyze the strengths and weaknesses of opponents and how they match up with their team and devise game plans to optimize performance.

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They motivate players and encourage sportsmanship and academic achievement. Head coaches select, train and supervise assistant coaches. College coaches travel to recruit high school prospects to improve the talent on their team.

The top 25 college coaches earn an average of 5 million dollars and often have lucrative endorsement deals on the side. Even the 100th highest paid NCAA coach earns over $500,000. Top pro coaches often earned more than 5 million dollars in 2017.

Coaches in smaller colleges and high schools earn considerably less. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, coaches and scouts earn an average of $64,180 in 2017.

There is a high earning potential in the world of sport as you can see from the list above. With the right amount of hard work, determination, and dedication, the sky will be your limit.

Can You Earn Money From Sports?

Here are 5 ways to make money as a sports fan.

Create a Sports Blog

One of the easiest ways to make money on your sports obsession is to start a sports blog. Nearly every sport has a passionate fanbase, so you’ll definitely have an audience. Choose an easy-to-use blogging site where you’re able to customize your template, or you can even create your own website.

Be sure to have a social media presence—you’ll be able to promote your blog on the social media pages of whichever teams or sports organizations you’re covering.

If you’re able to get enough traffic, then advertisers may pay you to either advertise their product or feature their ads on your site. It can be a lucrative way to earn some extra money or even a living.

You could also start a vlog on a video streaming website. On sites like YouTube, you can earn money if you get enough views on your video. Be sure you get great vlogging equipment, like a high-quality mic and headphones.

Bet on Sports

If you’re a high-roller, you might be able to make some money gambling on sports. Obviously, this is more of a high-risk way to earn money and you should definitely exercise caution so you don’t wind up in a huge financial hole. Abide by the golden rule: never bet more than you’re willing to lose.

There are several ways you can bet on sports. First, you can bet online—the internet is one of the few places where you’re able to gamble legally, but this is only available in some states. Check out the best online sports betting in your location in the US.

Otherwise, you’ll mostly have to do your sports betting in select locations. Most states have casinos where you’re able to bet on sports, but there may be other betting venues, like horse racing tracks, that you can find in some places.

Use your sports knowledge and intuition to make the best bets possible (the data revolution in sports makes it easier than ever to make precise betting decisions). Also, make sure you do research on the earnings minimum to file taxes—the IRS may require you to report your gambling winnings.

Play Fantasy Sports

You can also make money by playing fantasy sports. Fantasy Football and Fantasy Baseball have a huge base of players who are willing to pay large buy-ins for competitive leagues. These leagues offer extremely lucrative prize pools for the winner.

If you’re consistently a fantasy sports champ, you might consider joining a league with a large buy-in so you could potentially get a big payday for winning. Just like with betting, be sure to use your sports knowledge to build a good team and set a successful roster each week.

Sell Sports Memorabilia

Another great way you can earn money on sports is to sell sports memorabilia to collectors. There are plenty of sports collectors out there who are willing to pay top dollar for certain items. Oftentimes, these items include signed memorabilia, like signed photographs, jerseys, and gear.

However, collectors might also be seeking certain types of memorabilia that are associated with a great player or a great moment—like a jersey that was worn during a memorable game, or even a ticket stub to a legendary event. If you’re a big sports fan and you’re constantly going to big events, then you might even have some of these types of items in your own home.

Do Sport Photography

If you love being behind a camera, you could make a lot of money by doing sports photography. There’s a huge market for sports photography, from little league teams to high school and college teams, to professional sports.

Shooting photography for sports is a whole different beast because most sports are very fast, which makes it more difficult to capture high-quality still photos. But with a little practice, you could be taking some amazing photos that people are more than willing to pay you for.

How do Sports Stars Make Money?

Most of the money in the sports world comes from the fans, whether it be ticket sales or merchandise sales, the emotion and passion elicited by the fans is truly what drives the industry.

Depending on their individual contacts, they are paid equal portions of their salary either weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. … Most sign a four year salary agreement when coming to a new team. Teams also give players money for just signing the contract.

NBA players typically get paid bi-weekly during the season, but they have the right to negotiate a different payment schedule on an individual basis. … 80% is is the maximum amount a player’s salary can be paid out in a lump sum, according to the LA Times.

Generally, NBA players receive a salary every two weeks just like any American employee. However, some players may require other terms and conditions when signing their contracts. For example, Kobe Bryant required on his last contract to receive the maximum possible salary at the beginning of the season.

There’s no question that professional athletes are paid too much. In 2018, the average annual salary for an M.L.B. … In the N.F.L., the average was “only” $2.7 million, but one of football’s highest-paid players, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, just signed a four-year contract for $134 million.

What Sport Can Make You Money?

The highest-paid sports stars are among the wealthiest people in the world. Every year, several lists are published to evaluate the worth of the players. But here we will give you brief details about the highest paying sports in the world.

1. Basketball

Famous basketball tournaments such as the NBA received compliments for being among the highest-paying sports leagues. The participants get huge amounts of salary from their respective teams. Besides, they also earn millions from numerous of their endorsements.

They have their signature shoes and jerseys to boost their yearly income. Basketball player Michael Jordan tops the Forbes list of Richest Players with $35.9 million in 1992. And now, it also holds its place among the most popular sports in America.

He then achieved $36.0 million in 1993, $30.01 million in 1994, $43.9 million in 1995, $78.3 million in 1997 and $69 million in 1998. Another legendary basketball player Shaquille O’Neal’ achieved 6th place in the Forbes list of Richest Players. He has earned $15.2 million in 1993 and again achieved 2nd place with $16.7 million in 1994.

2. Boxing

The game of boxing has also made its mark among the very best paying sporting event. It also earns its place as one of the most dangerous sports of modern days. Well-known boxers earn huge amounts as their tournament prize money. They also get good amounts of profit from Pay-Per-View commissions, betting, and endorsements.

One of the greatest boxers, Mike Tyson, topped the Forbes list in 1991 with $28.6 million. He again repeated the same in 1996 with a total income of $75 million. Former international boxer Evander Holyfield topped the Forbes list of Richest Players with $60.5 million in 1992.

After a short break as a contribution of the boxer in the Forbes list of Richest Players, Floyd Mayweather topped the list with $85 million in income in 2012 and again achieved first place in 2014 with $105 million income.

3. Auto Racing

Several racing events such as the Grand Prix of Formula1 or NASCAR earn its reputation for being one of the highest paying events in the sports universe. The involvement of risks is compromised by great winning amounts and several endorsements of reputed brands.

F1 legend Michael Schumacher achieved first place on the Forbes list of Richest Players in 1999 with a total income of $49 million. He again achieved the same in 2000 with $59 million.

Long before that, Ayrton Senna achieved 3rd place on the Forbes list of Richest Players in 1992 with $22 million. And the same year Nigel Mansell also achieved 4th place on the list with a total income of $14.5 million.

4. Golf

Legendary golfer and one of the most successful athletes of any genre, Tiger Woods, still holds the history of achieving first place in Forbes list of Richest Players, a record eleven times. He first topped the Forbes list in 2002 with $69 million.

Then in 2003 with $78 million, in 2004 with $80.3 million, in 2005 with $87 million, in 2006 with $90 million, in 2007 with $100 million, in 2008 with $115 million, in 2009 with $110 million, in 2010 with $105 million and in 2011 with $75 million. Finally, he tops again in 2013 with a total income of $78.1 million.

Long before Tiger Woods’ achievements, Jack Nicklaus achieved 3rd place in the list of richest players. He earned the spot in 1994 with $14.8 million. Besides, Arnold Palmer also achieved 4th place on the list in the same year with a total income of $13.6 million. So undoubtedly, Golf earns its place for providing the highest paying sports jobs.

5. American Football

American Football earns its place among the highest paying sports in the world. And the players frequently achieved positions in the Forbes list of Richest Players. Besides the players, it also houses some of the highest-paying sports management jobs.

Joe Montana first achieved 7th place in the Forbes list in 1992 with a total income of $9.5 million. NFL star Deion Sanders achieved 3rd place in the list in 1995 with a total income of $22.5 million.

Famous NFL participant Peyton Manning achieved 3rd place in the Forbes list of Richest Players in 2004 with $42 million. Michael Vick achieved 4th place in the list in 2005 with $37.5 million. Another famous NFL star, Tom Brady, achieved 9th place in 2006 with a total income of $29 million.

6. Soccer

Without even saying, football or soccer is the home of some of the highest-paying sports contracts. English football player David Beckham first achieved 8th place in the Forbes list in 2004 with a total income of $28 million.

He again achieved 7th place in the list in 2005 with a total income of $32.5 million and achieved 6th place in the Forbes list of Richest Players in 2007 with $33 million. Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho achieved 9th place in the list in 2007 with $31million. David Beckham again achieved 2nd place in 2008 with a total income of $50 million.

Last year, Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo achieved 1st place in the 2017 Forbes list of richest players with a total income of $93 million. Besides, another legendary Argentine footballer Lionel Messi also achieved 2nd place in the list last year with a total income of $86.2 million. At the moment, Messi is the highest-paid footballer in the world, followed by Ronaldo.

Can Amateur Athletes Make Money?

A common misconception about amateurs and professionals is that professionals are paid to play sports whereas amateur athletes are not. Amateur athletes often receive some compensation for their efforts. In ancient Greece, for example, victorious athletes in the Olympics were handsomely rewarded for their efforts.

As of the early 2000s many college athletes receive academic scholarships for playing on a college team. Remuneration for amateur athletes is even promoted with federal legislation.

The Amateur Sports Act of 1978 (36 U.S.C.A. § 391) created the Athletic Congress, a national governing body for amateur athletes, which administers a trust fund that allows amateur athletes to receive funds and sponsorship payments without losing their amateur status.

The most basic difference between amateur athletic events and professional events lies in their rewards for participation. Amateur events, by definition, do not reward victors with a prize of great value. Professional events, by contrast, reward participants and victors with money and/or other prizes.

An accomplished athlete may choose to compete as an amateur if her sport does not have a thriving professional organization. Some athletes can make a living in amateur sports because victories in high-profile amateur events can lead to advertising deals and other business opportunities

Which Athlete Makes The Most Money?

This year, McGregor lands the winning punch, having leveraged his unmatched popularity in mixed martial arts to build a lucrative hustle outside UFC’s Octagon. The brash McGregor collected a total of $180 million over the last 12 months; most of that comes from his recent sale of his majority stake in whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve to Proximo Spirits for $150 million.

It’s the 32-year-old’s first time at No. 1 and his second appearance in the top ten (he landed at No. 4 with $99 million in 2018 after the fight against Mayweather). McGregor clearly wants to put his money to work even beyond booze: He has floated the far-fetched notion of buying Manchester United, the Premier League’s most valuable team, in recent tweets.

Adding in his endorsements, McGregor made $158 million outside of his fighting career over the last 12 months, becoming only the third athlete, after Roger Federer and Tiger Woods, to earn more than $70 million off the field in a single year while still actively competing.

Three other athletes also surpassed $100 million in total earnings this year: soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and NFL quarterback Dak Prescott. Messi, whose off-the-pitch drama with FC Barcelona last summer was followed by media reports of the club’s dire financial state and the revelation that his contract was worth $674 million, sets a record for soccer players with his 2021 total of $130 million.

Prescott, with $107.5 million, breaks the record for NFL players thanks to a $66 million signing bonus from the Dallas Cowboys. The four on this year’s list join only five other athletes—Federer, Mayweather, Neymar, Manny Pacquiao and Woods—to have made more than $100 million in a single year. Previously, the most $100 million earners to appear on one list was three, accomplished in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

How College Athletes Make Money Off NIL

Opendorse, a sports technology company that connects athletes with endorsements, found that since July 1, college football players have signed 60.1 percent of all NIL deals, with women’s volleyball in second place at 9.8 percent, according to IHE‘s Maria Carrasco.

Opendorse also found that 47.8 percent of total NIL compensation is awarded for posting content on social media, 19.1 percent goes for licensing rights and 12.8 percent goes for players’ signatures on products.

Moreover, Opendorse found the average NIL compensation for Division I athletes in July was $471, while those in Division II earned an average of $81 and those in Division III, $47, Carrasco reported.

Among NIL’s early winners, University of Alabama quarterback Bryce Younghad had already earned close to $1 million in endorsement deals by late July. Fresno State twin sister basketball players Haley and Hanna Cavinder quickly landed deals with Six Star Pro Nutrition and Boost Mobile on the strength of their presence on Instagram and TikTok.

All female athletes at Brigham Young University now have the opportunity to earn up to $6,000 during the academic year through a brand deal with SmartyStreets, a location data intelligence company.

Female athletes who use their social media channels to share information about the company, attend and promote company events, appear as talent in marketing materials, and wear “SmartyStreets swag” will receive payment per activity — up to $3,000 per semester.

5 Jobs Where Student Athletes Can Make Money

We all need money to eat or pay our bills in order to have a comfortable life. Without a scholarship and stipend to help pay their expenses, a lot of athletes see no other choice but to start working. But, there’s a way to balance the two. 

Here are some tips on how to save/make money while being an athlete and after you’re done with school.

1. Control your Expenses

A lot of us don’t know how to manage our money during college. Some students receive stipends of $1,300 dollars to help pay the bills, but at the end of the month, they don’t “see the color of the money.” There are tons of apps out there that can help you with that. I personally use “Money Lover.”

With this app you can track your expenses based on categories such as grocery shopping, education, bills, income, entertainment, and etc. This way you can know exactly how much money you spend and on what. The app also offers budget planning, bills reminders, and an in-depth report that shows you where your money comes and goes. It’s worth a try!

2. Babysitting

It’s a classic way to make money, but it works. Whether you’re still in school or graduated, babysitting is an easy and quick way to earn some extra cash.

The good part of it is, you don’t need to spend your night working at a restaurant fighting for tips. You get paid pretty well to mainly sit on the couch, watch a movie, and maybe play some games. A great website to find babysitting jobs is Care.com. 

On their site, you can also find pet and house sitting jobs. All you need to do is to sign in, create a profile, and start looking for clients that would be a good match with your schedule and experience.

3. Private Lessons

Another way to make extra cash is by giving lessons. Were you a tennis player? Find a place where you can give private tennis lessons. You already have a list of contacts that can help you with that: coaches, trainers, friends, etc.

This business works most through word-of-mouth. Once you start giving private lessons, it’s not hard to find new clients. Let people know you are offering them. Post it on Facebook, LinkedIn.

4. Online Gigs

There are a lot of online platforms where you can make money selling small services. One of the most famous right now is Fiverr.

You can offer pretty much anything from graphic design, data analysis, cooking recipes, writing and translating for people all over the globe. Gigs normally cost $5 dollars, which might not seem a whole lot, but it’s a way to get your work exposed and make some money doing things that you actually enjoy doing. 

You’ll receive rating and feedback of the services you offer based on the quality of service provided including time delivery and customer satisfaction and then you are able to start moving up levels. There are three levels of Fiverr. Each level offers you more benefits and also more money. You can move up from getting payed $5 to $40.

5. Sell Things You Don’t Use Anymore 

You know that book that is covered in dust on your bookshelf? Or that shirt you decided to keep but you never ended up using? Selling things you don’t use anymore will get you money. There are several websites where you can do that; eBay, Craigslist, Amazon. The list is huge. However, there are certain websites where some things sell better than others. 

Tradesy is a great website to sell clothes, bags, accessories, and shoes. It’s super simple too. You upload pictures of the items you want to sell and they will give you a quote on how much they can give you for it. 

All the books that you had to buy during college can be turned into money at Cash4Books.net They also accept other types of books, but textbooks are the most popular.

If you are a gamer and have a bunch of old video games, CD’s, Blu-Rays and DVD’s, Bonavendi is your spot. Their philosophy revolves around the idea of recommerce. Or, in other words, the idea that electronics should not end up at a scrap yard. The cool thing about the website is, different than eBay and Amazon, prices are fixed.

No crazy auctions and complications. You create an account, enter your items, and Bonavendi identifies the best vendors for you. The best part of it all is, once your products are sold, you get your cash right away.

Which Sport Pays The Highest Salary?

There are a number of contenders for the title of highest paid sport in the world and a number of ways to calculate it. Sports like boxing, basketball, and soccer have some of the highest earning sports stars on the planet. But to answer this question, it is not about individual salaries it is about the best paying sports overall.

1. Basketball

Average Salary: $4.9 million

It is not surprising that basketball is the world’s highest paid sport. As well as earning millions per year in salary, the NBA’s best basketball players earn a huge amount of money from their various endorsements and sponsorships, more so than any other sport.

A quick glance at any Forbes Magazine’s list of highest paid sportsmen will find basketball well represented with the average player earning a $4.9 million per year. Top players can earn even more, with Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers earning over $30 million in the 2013/14 season.

2. Major League Baseball

Average Salary: $3.82 million

Major League baseball is hugely popular in the USA and in other countries, such as Japan. In the 2014 season, the average wage in MLB was $3.82 million. As well as high wages, MLB players boost their income with sponsorship and endorsements.

As a sport, Major League Baseball has been increasing its revenue every year for the last thirteen years and this has been reflected in player’s incomes increasing. This could lead to Baseball challenging for title of the world’s highest paying sport in the near future.

3. Ice Hockey (NHL)

Average Salary: $2.58 million

The NHL is popular across the USA, Canada as well as many European countries. Its number three position may be surprising to some as the NHL does not create anywhere near as much revenue as the NFL, NBA or MLB.

However, there are less teams and players in the NHL which increases the average salary figure. The highest paid player in recent years is Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators, earning a reputed $14 million per year.

4. American Football (NFL)

Average Salary: $2 million

NFL salaries have been steadily growing over recent years and it may be surprising that it doesn’t feature higher up in our list. However, the NFL doesn’t have quite the geographic spread of viewers that sports like the NHL and MLB do which can affect the value of sponsorship deals.

There are also more teams in the NFL and there are 11 players on each team too which affects the average salary. Some NFL players do rank well in the individual earnings tables such as Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers who earns $22 million per year.

5. The FA Premier League (Soccer)

Average Salary: $1.6 million

We’ve used the Premiership as it is the most popular soccer league in the world but figures would be similar for any of the world’s major soccer leagues. Although leagues like the Premiership pay big salaries ($19 million per year for Wayne Rooney), there are a high number of teams in the league in comparison to some other sports as well as eleven players in each team.

How to Make Money as a Student Athlete in High School

You can start making money online as well as offline.

ONLINE:

  1. Start a community of athelets on Facebook , Instagram, Youtube or Tiktok for free. (Choose any one focused paltform to begin with)
  2. Grow your Facebook group. Build a strong personal brand in your niche.
  3. Earn money by selling your setvices/products, sponsorships from brands, affiliate commissions for others services/products.

OFFLINE:

1. You can train other inexperienced peolel who want to be athletes.

2. You can assist an experienced coach.

3. Participate in sports awareness programs.

Part-time Jobs For Student Athletes

1. Become a Tutor

Becoming a tutor is a great way to use your education while you’re not in school. Besides helping your brain from shrinking and forgetting all the things you learn in college, it’s also a great way to help others. There are a few places online where you can apply to be a tutor. If you are good in chemistry, math, english, or if you speak a different language, use that in your favor!

2. Write a Blog

Blogging has been around for many years, but the increase on accessibility has opened doors for more and more people to create their own blog. It can really be about anything. In fact, the more specific you are, the better.

The Internet has given people the ability to look for what they want at whatever time they want it, and this means that people want someone who can speak directly to them.

If you are super into recycling, write about it. If you enjoy darts, write about it. You might be surprised to see how many people have the same interest as you or who want to learn more about something you’re an expert on. 

3. Sell Things That You Create

There are also websites where you can sell things that you create. Etsy is a growing marketplace with approximately 24 million of users around the world. The focus is on handmade items. It can be shirts, craft and supplies, jewelry, even books and paintings. You are able to sell and buy items from all over the globe. 

There’s a 20 cent listing fee and also a 3-5 percent fee after the product is sold. But if you consider the fact that they offer you a platform to sell your products and also provide exposure, it’s not that bad. Other websites have collect fees of almost 10%.

How to Athletes Make Money After They Retire

Some will get jobs in media, covering the game — between local and national; TV, radio, and Internet-only; there are jobs out there for former players to provide commentary. Not a LOT of jobs, but some are available.

Coaching seems to be a popular avenue for some — obviously most don’t just jump in as head coaches, but some go to the NFL or colleges as assistants (or for football, position coaches) and start climbing their way up that ladder. Lesser-known guys might have to get their start at the high-school level.

Endorsements and personal appearance fees can help for the more famous players, but it’s probably not enough to make a living off of.

Players who managed their money well during their careers might have invested in other business opportunities along the way and might have money coming in from that. A lot of those tend to be businesses where name recognition helps — restaurants, car dealerships, etc. — though real estate is also popular because it’s fairly “easy” to buy property and hire someone to do the day-to-day management of it. There was just a story about NBA player Luol Deng, who as amassed something like $150M in real estate assets over his playing career.

Beyond that… many have to just go get conventional jobs like the rest of us; they just happen to have a bit more of a nest egg in their bank accounts left over from their playing days.

NCAA Rules on Receiving Money

The N.C.A.A. has long barred players from being paid “to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.” The association has also said that players, with a handful of exceptions, could not participate in a sport if they had agreed to have an agent represent them.

The rules did not change so much as the N.C.A.A. decided to waive them.

Under the plan that association leaders approved on Wednesday afternoon, Bylaw 12 — a thick portion of the rule book that governs amateurism and athletics eligibility — will not be enforced if a student receives payment in exchange for use of the athlete’s name, image or likeness (also known as N.I.L.). The N.C.A.A. also agreed to allow athletes to have representation in connection with their N.I.L. activities.

Schools in many states are expected to set policies around matters like whether students may wear a university’s logo in an advertisement.

Athletes will still not be paid directly by universities beyond the cost of attendance, and the N.C.A.A. has been keen to ensure that athletes not be considered employees of their colleges.

“There are things that are going to have to be tweaked as we move along,” Richard J. Ensor, the commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference since 1988, said. “The basic regulation here, it’s not going to change.”

Do Olympians Get Paid For Life?

Olympic athletes do not get paid by just attending the Olympic Games.

However, if an athlete earns a medal, there is a medal bonus attached to it. A gold medal is worth $37,500, a silver medal is worth $22,500 and a bronze medal is worth $15,000. So, not only is there an incentive to stand on the pedestal in order to have your name etched in Olympic history, but the athletes also look forward to the cash prize that comes with it.

Athletes can sign personal sponsorship deals to earn money apart from winning medals. Although the medal bonuses help, it is not enough money to live off of, especially when the Olympic Games only occur every four years.

There are a few different types of sponsorships Olympic athletes can sign with. The first is a corporate sponsorship, which is when a company pays the athlete to wear its brand on their clothing. These logos will appear on the athletes’ clothing during non-Olympic competitions, though.

Another source of income is through endorsement deals. This is very common with medal-winning Olympians. For example, snowboarder Chloe Kim signed with Nike, meaning she can appear on their advertisements. 

NIL NCAA

Since the National Collegiate Athletic Association created an interim policy three months ago allowing college athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness (NIL), some athletes have been cashing in.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of NIL so far is University of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who by late July had already earned close to $1 million in endorsement deals, AL.com reported. At California State University, Fresno, women’s basketball players Haley and Hanna Cavinder, who are twins, have used their Instagram and TikTok fame to land deals with Six Star Pro Nutrition and Boost Mobile.

Some institutions are even seeing opportunities for entire teams or athletic departments. All female athletes at Brigham Young University now have the opportunity to earn up to $6,000 during the academic year through a brand deal with SmartyStreets, a location data intelligence company.

Trent Howell, head of marketing at SmartyStreets, said female athletes who use their social media channels to share information about the company, attend and promote company events, appear as talent in marketing materials, and wear “SmartyStreets swag” will receive payment per activity, earning up to $3,000 per semester.

So far, he said, 294 athletes have signed up for the brand deal. He said SmartyStreets CEO and founder Jonathan Oliver chose to connect with all the women in the athletic department because women’s sports are typically overlooked.

However, as athletes make money from brand deals, some institutions are still struggling to navigate their state laws and regulations as the NCAA works with Congress to create overarching federal legislation, said Adrienne Larmett, a senior manager in Baker Tilly’s risk advisory practice focusing on higher education.

Regardless of whether legislation on NIL has been signed or taken effect at the state level, all college athletes are now able to profit under NCAA’s interim policy. Under the policy, athletes cannot accept NIL deals unless they play, compensation cannot be contingent upon their enrollment at a particular school or their athletic achievement and athletes cannot accept payment from their institution in exchange for use of their name, image or likeness.

NIL College Sports

The fact that most players aren’t pulling in thousands of dollars per semester doesn’t diminish the significance of the NCAA’s policy change. Every player interviewed for this story described their daily schedules as packed with classes, practices, workouts, and games – giving them little time to earn money through jobs. NIL deals have been welcome, in part, because many don’t require significant time commitments.

“I feel like I work extremely hard, and we really don’t have a lot of time during the day,” Hames says. “Then when you go to school, we go to our practices, we do film, we go to games, and so there’s not a lot of opportunities for us to get jobs outside of that. So it’s been nice to be able to do something where I can make money for the sport that I’ve worked so hard for my entire life.”

College athletes are heavily dependent upon their schools, which exert control over their schedules, their meals, their finances, and their academic and athletic futures. NIL deals are one way for athletes to own something that is wholly theirs, over which their schools have little influence.

It also lets athletes have control of their creative pursuits away from the playing field – something that Ulmer, the Marshall offensive lineman, singer, and guitarist has relished.

Before the NIL era, Ulmer says, “I had an alias, and I couldn’t advertise it on any of my social medias. If I was playing somewhere, I had to specifically tell them, like, ‘Hey, you know, don’t say my name. Say ‘Lucky Bill.’ That was my stage name.

“I’m not going to say that it necessarily affected my confidence, because I still had an opportunity to do something that I enjoyed, but, you know, it’s super nice now to have the luxury of being able to place my name on it. And if I have original material, it’s really great to be able to say, ‘This is mine. I wrote this. I’m Will Ulmer. This is what I love.’ I think that’s really what it’s all about.”

Do College Athletes Get Better Jobs?

A Gallup study of college graduates found that former athletes were more likely to be thriving in life after graduation, largely due to the support systems their sports team provided for them.

In nearly all aspects of well-being, defined by Gallup as purpose, social, community and physical well-being, former athletes who competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association were more likely to report they are “thriving” when it comes to health, relationships, community engagement and job satisfaction, according to the report released today.

But in one category, financial well-being, former athletes and nonathletes who graduated in the last two decades reported similar levels of student loan debt, with about 20 percent of these graduates exceeding $40,000 in debt, the study found.

How do College Athletes Make Money For Their School?

College sports are big business, particularly at the so-called Power Five level, the five conferences that dominate college football. The University of Texas brought in $182.1 million in 2017.

At one Power Five school, this was the revenue breakdown (total revenue of $115.2 million):

Conference distribution, which includes TV revenue, 37%

Ticket sales, 34%. Of this, 27% was football tickets, 5% men’s basketball and 2% baseball, with all other sports negligible.

Contributions from fans tied to ticket priority, 14%

Sponsorships and licensing, 11%. This includes a shoe/apparel contract (Nike at this particular school), stadium ads and other corporate sponsorship.

Postseason reimbursement, 2%

Concessions and merchandise, 1%

Other revenue, 1%.

Can You Have a Job as a D1 Athlete?

Yes… but there are strict NCAA and school guidelines that must be met. Keep in mind not all DI athletes are on scholarship. Keeping them from earning $$ to pay for school, housing and books, as well as food, would be criminal.

They do. They receive scholarships, meal plans, residency and pocket money to play a sport. The value of these “Scholarships” when you add in the extras are easily worth 250 to 300 hundred thousand dollars. For 4 years of work. Right out of high school with no discernible skills other than their athletic ability. And it’s all non taxable.

Do Olympians Get Paid to Train?

There’s no paycheck for training to compete.

There are a few different types of sponsorships Olympic athletes can sign with. The first is a corporate sponsorship, which is when a company pays the athlete to wear its brand on their clothing. These logos will appear on the athletes’ clothing during non-Olympic competitions, though.

Another source of income is through endorsement deals. This is very common with medal-winning Olympians. For example, snowboarder Chloe Kim signed with Nike, meaning she can appear on their advertisements. 

For Olympic athletes who may not be big names quite yet, they often receive funding from friends or family and local businesses. Additionally, Olympians can receive an athletic grant or part-time job through the Olympic Job Opportunities Program.

Why Are Athletes Overpaid?

There’s no question that professional athletes are paid too much. In 2018, the average annual salary for an M.L.B. player was $4.1 million. Mike Trout, a centerfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, gets $35.8 million a year. In the N.B.A., the average annual salary was $7.1 million.

In the N.F.L., the average was “only” $2.7 million, but one of football’s highest-paid players, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, just signed a four-year contract for $134 million.

Compare those wages with the national average salary for a firefighter: about $45,000 a year. It’s about $56,000 for a schoolteacher and nearly $74,000 for an emergency room nurse.

However, it’s not the athletes’ fault that their wages are so high. The main problem is the huge amount of money involved in professional sports. Team owners and the three big leagues rake in billions of dollars a year.

Some of it comes from fans who shell out big bucks for costly game tickets and hugely overpriced snacks at stadiums and arenas, and for hoodies and hats with their favorite team’s logo. But far more comes from the multibillion-dollar deals made with cable and TV networks to broadcast games.

With leagues and team owners making such massive sums, the athletes who put their bodies on the line for their sports deserve a large share of it. But they’re still earning way too much money.

Maybe highly paid athletes (along with team owners) should have to pay a special tax that would help fund better salaries for firefighters, teachers, nurses, and other people who work for the greater public good.

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