Sportsperson
Plays a game professionally and competes at state, national or international level.
Overview
An individual who plays a particular game professionally is called a Sportsperson. He or she competes in state, national or international sporting events.
Where they work
- Sports teams
- Tournaments
Work environment
You will work in teams. Travel is part of the job profile. Your work timings would depend on the schedule of the tournament and the days your team would participate in.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You are good at sports
- You like to work in teams
- You are physically fit and agile
- You like working outdoors
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree (B.P.Ed) in Physical Education
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree (M.P.Ed) in Physical Education
- 2Participate in college level tournaments, then proceed to playing district level games, then play at the state level competitions and then national level championship
Alternative route 3
- 1Join a sports academy while at school, carry on practicing along with your schooling, pursue a Bachelor's in Physical Education or Sports Management, follow it up with a Master's in the same or allied field
Alternative route 4
- 1Then participate in college-level tournaments, then proceed to playing district-level games, then play at the state-level competitions and then national-level championship
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by the Department of Physical Education. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu
- Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Chandigarh
- Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Bajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya, Bajkul, West Bengal
- Daulat Ram College, New Delhi
- Domkal Girls College, Murshidabad, West Bengal
- Dr Birinchi Kumar Barooah College, Puranigudam, Assam
- Gobi Arts and Science College, Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- AVVM Sri Pushpam College, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Arumugam Pillai Seethai Ammal College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
- CMS College of Science and Commerce, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Gochar Mahavidyalaya, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Kumbi College, Manipur
- MMH College, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
- Meenakshi Ramaswamy Arts and Science College, Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu
- Narayanrao Waghmare Mahavidyalaya, Akhada Balapur, Maharashtra
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1District Level Sportsman/Athlete
- 2State Level Sportsman/Athlete
- 3National Level Sportsman/Athlete
- 4Professional Sportsman
- 5Sports Coach/Manager
Expected income
₹34,500 – ₹60,000 per month
It will vary from sport to sport. The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Sports Coach
Helps players and teams reach their potential by planning and running training programmes.
Physical Fitness Trainer
Helps people of all ages improve health and fitness through exercise and healthy diet.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Physical Education.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to sports.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Neetu David — Currently the chairperson of BCCI women's selection committee and a former cricketer who played for the national women's cricket team. She is a left-arm spinner. She was the first bowler for India to take 100 wickets in Women's ODIs.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 433 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/professional-athlete/india
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
This card and the Sports Scout card print the same Physical Education institute list; both are reproduced as printed. The second and third "OR" branches of the printed pathway overlap almost word for word — the source's wording is kept unchanged.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.