Explore unit group

Version:
NOC 2011 Version 1.0

5251 – Athletes

Athletes participate in competitive sports events on an amateur or professional basis. They play team sports such as hockey, baseball, football and lacrosse; or compete in individual sports such as skiing, figure skating, boxing or track and field; or in games such as poker or chess. Athletes are employed by professional team organizations or they may be self-employed. This unit group also includes competitors such as chess players and poker players.

Profile

Index of titles Example job titles

  • Amateur athlete
  • Archer
  • Athlete
  • Automobile racer
  • Badminton player
  • Baseball player
  • Basketball player
  • Billiard player
  • Bowler
  • Boxer
  • Canoeist
  • Chess player
  • Chuckwagon driver
  • Chuckwagon racer - stampede
  • Competitor - chess
  • Coxswain
  • Curler
  • Cyclist
  • Demolition driver
  • Discus thrower
  • Diver, olympic sport
  • Driver, chuckwagon
  • Driver, demolition
  • Driver, harness race
  • Driver, harness racing
  • Driver, race car
  • Driver, sulky
  • Fencer
  • Figure skater
  • Football player
  • Footballer
  • Golf player
  • Golfer
  • Gymnast
  • Hammer thrower
  • Handball player
  • Harness race driver
  • Harness racing driver
  • Helmsman - sports
  • Hockey player
  • Javelin thrower
  • Jockey
  • Judoka
  • Jumper
  • Pentathlete
  • Performer, rodeo
  • Performer, stampede
  • Ping-pong player
  • Poker player
  • Prize fighter
  • Professional athlete
  • Professional boxer
  • Professional pool player
  • Professional sportsman/woman
  • Race car driver
  • Racer, automobile
  • Racer, stampede
  • Racer, stock car
  • Rider
  • Rodeo performer
  • Rower
  • Sailboarder
  • Short-distance runner
  • Shot put
  • Skater
  • Skier
  • Snowboarder
  • Soccer player
  • Sprinter
  • Stampede performer
  • Stampede racer
  • Standardbred pacer
  • Stock car racer
  • Sulky driver
  • Swimmer
  • Table tennis player
  • Tennis player
  • Track athlete
  • Volleyball player
  • Water-polo player
  • Weight-lifter
  • Wrestler
  • Athlete
  • Baseball player
  • Boxer
  • Figure skater
  • Football player
  • Golfer
  • Harness race driver
  • Hockey player
  • Jockey
  • Professional athlete
  • Skier
  • Sprinter
  • Track athlete

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Athletes perform some or all of the following duties:
    • Train under the direction of a coach or trainer to qualify for competition
    • Attend scheduled practice and training sessions
    • Participate in local, regional, provincial, national or international competitions and sporting events
    • Assess performance after an event to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Employment requirements

  • Demonstrated ability in a particular sport, or type of game, is required.
  • Extensive training under the supervision of a coach is required.
  • Certification with a particular sports federation may be required.
  • A background combining athletic training and college or university studies is strongly recommended.

Additional information

    Exclusions

    Breakdown summary

    Broad occupational category
    5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport
    Skill level
    B – Occupations usually require college education or apprenticeship training.
    Major group
    52 – Technical occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport
    Minor group
    525 – Athletes, coaches, referees and related occupations
    Version
    NOC 2011 Version 1.0