For many people, their passion is athletics. There are of course many professional sports teams that pay players millions of dollars each year. However, not every athlete is good enough to make the cut for professional sports. While that may seem like the end of a student’s dream for an athletics based career, there are many other great related careers to choose from. Some can even help improve other people’s lives. Here are four.

Physical Therapy

One of the best career choices for athletes is obtaining a career in physical therapy. Also known as physiotherapy, physical therapy is a means of treating injuries, disease, or physical deformities with the use of things like exercise, massage, and heat treatments. It does not involve the prescription of drugs or the use of invasive surgeries. While physical therapists often work with athletes, they also help regular people improve their health and overcome their pain.

Safety

If you are an athlete looking for a degree to pursue in school, one excellent choice is to obtain a degree in safety. Occupational safety management is actually a large career field with strong job security. It has many applications in the world of sports. You could work to ensure that athletes are protected while out on the field. It’s a career that can certainly save lives.

Coaching

While you may not be a good enough athlete to make the cut for the NFL or the NBA, that doesn’t mean you can’t become involved in seriously competitive sporting events. One way to do so is to become a coach for sports teams. It’s a career that is in demand and can be very rewarding. You may help foster the athletic skills of a child that goes on to become a professional athlete someday.

Athletic Trainer

Lastly, if you want a career in athletics that can really help people, you could go to school to become an athletic trainer. When a player gets injured on the field, it is the athletic trainer that is sent out to provide first aid and assess any possible injuries. It’s a very important position and can help to ensure that the health risks of sports related injuries are minimized.

Very few people are able to become professional athletes. Thankfully, if your dream was to become a professional athlete, you can still pursue many different careers in athletics if that dream is not possible. Many of these positions are very important and can help to save the lives of both athletes as well as others.

Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.