The ancient Romans, although initially scornful of sports, also participated in events of their own, such as chariot racing and gladiatorial battles. Although the interest in sports diminishes during the Middle Ages, sports for entertainment began to reemerge around 1200 AD in various European countries. In France, for example, teams played a hockeylike game called ''la soule.'' Although ''la soule'' was discouraged by authorities because it was thought to be too rough. Eventually, the sports generated an interest in games such as tennis, which became very popular in the1400s.
The popularity of sporting events have greatly increased also its marketing sports jobs in many countries around the world between the 1400s and the 1800s. In England, especially, competitions were held in various sports, such as track and field, horse racing, and football ( the ancestor of soccer). During the nineteenth century, sports became highly organized. In 1825, for example, the first organized track-and-field meet was held in England. Four years later, Oxford and Cambridge Universities held a rowing match. This represented the first intercollegiate athletic competition. In the United States, American football evolved from the sports of rugby, and in 1869, Rutgers and Princeton Universities played the first intercollegiate football game. Many other sports careers soon followed. Baseball was first played in the United States in 1845, basketball in 1891. Golf and tennis were organized into competitive events soon after, and the first championship boxing match was held in New Orleans in 1892. The interest and growth of sports has continued to increase. Today, literally tens of millions of sports fans attend various athletic events, and sports have become a very popular American pastime.
As to its sports employment, professional athletes are paid to participate in competitive athletics events. To prepare these events, professional athletes must practice and exercise for hours and hours each day. Coaches, instructor, and managers help professional athletes train and condition their bodies. They are responsible for maintaining the athletic strength of the competitor, and assisting in recovery programs for injured athletes. The negotiate fees, salaries, and other compensation. The specific nature of the work varies according to the specific sport played. Some sports, like tennis and golf, are individual games in which one person competes against one opponent. Other sports, such as football, basketball, and hockey, are team efforts. In some cases, in athletic event may be both an individual and a team event, as in gymnastics and wrestling, where athletes often compete individually toward a total team score.
All sports jobs require physical skills. Some sports may involve greater physical contact with other players than other sports. Football for instance, is considered a ‘rougher’ sport than golf. All professional athletes, however, must carefully develop and sharpen physical skills in their sports career. In addition, all athletes, regardless of the sport, must develop various mental skills as well, such as the ability to concentrate and to play under pressure. Professional athletes are often well-known by the general public. Athletic events are viewed and enjoyed by millions of fans all over the world. In this country, many different types of sports have become popular, including football, baseball, basketball, boxing, tennis, golf, hockey, swimming, skating, skiing, and others. Furthermore, each sports has its own training and educational requirements. There are no formal requirements in some sports, such as boxing. Other sports, like golf, specify that members meet very strict training and educational requirements. To become a member of the Professional Golfer’s Association, for example, an athlete must study various subjects, such as business administration and public relations. The athlete must also pass a written and an oral test and, of course, play a good game of golf.
Most sports and recreations careers have some requirements that are not found in other sports. It usually depends on the specific jobs sports management or organization that handles. Professional tennis players, for example, must rank among the top two hundred players in the world to become members of the Association of Tennis Professionals. Professional bowlers, on the other hand, must maintain an average of at least 190 for two years and perform in at least one Professional Bowlers Association tournament each year. Baseball and football players almost always play in college before they are offered contracts by professional teams. Indeed, sports career and other recreational jobs provide not only entertainment but promote health awareness to everyone.
