What is a dual career
A dual career is a concept where an athlete combines an active sports career with another professional or educational path. It's not about having two full-time jobs. It's about building a foundation during your career for the time when sports end.
The European Union has supported this concept since 2012, when it issued recommendations to all member states to create conditions for athletes' dual careers. Why? Because the statistics are harsh.
The average professional sports career lasts 8 to 15 years. Most athletes finish between 28 and 35. That means you have another 30 to 40 years of working life ahead. And if you only start looking for direction when you finish sports, you're at a massive disadvantage compared to peers who have 10 years of work experience.
Numbers that speak
Research by the European Olympic Committee from 2019 showed that athletes with dual careers have a 47 percent lower risk of depression after their sports career ends. They have greater financial stability. And most importantly -- they manage the transition from sports to work in an average of 6 months instead of 2 to 3 years.
That's a massive difference. And it's a difference you can start making right now.
A dual career doesn't weaken your sport.
Research shows that athletes with dual careers achieve the same or better sporting results. Because they have greater mental stability, better self-confidence, and a wider perspective.
Why most athletes don't do it
The answer is simple: time and culture.
Time
Morning training. Afternoon training. Recovery. Traveling to games. Where do you find time for studying or working? It looks impossible. But it's not impossible. It requires planning and prioritization.
Try calculating your day. Training: 3 to 4 hours. Travel: 1 hour. Recovery: 1 hour. Sleep: 8 hours. Food and hygiene: 2 hours. That's 15 to 16 hours. You have 8 to 9 hours left. Even after subtracting leisure and rest, you can find 2 to 3 hours a day for education or work.
Not every day. But most days? Yes.
Culture
In many sports environments, people still look at dual careers with suspicion. "Focus on your sport. Everything else can wait." You've heard this since you were 15. And you believed it.
But the people telling you that have their own interest. They want you to perform for the club. That's fine. But your life after sports isn't their problem. That's your responsibility.
In Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and the UK, dual careers are standard. Clubs have career advisors. Universities offer flexible programs for athletes. Coaches support it. Other countries are behind this trend, but it's slowly changing.
How it works in practice
Studying alongside sports
Distance learning or online programs are ideal for athletes. You can study anytime, anywhere. Many universities offer individual study plans for athletes -- you just have to ask.
Example: A professional basketball player studied management through a distance program. She trained mornings and afternoons. Evenings she studied for 2 hours. On weekends without games, 4 hours. In 5 years she had a degree and a sports career. When she reduced her sports load, she had a diploma in hand and job offers on the table.
Part-time work
Some jobs can be combined with sports. Personal training, online marketing, copywriting, graphic design -- these are fields where you can set your own schedule.
Example: A first-league hockey player did social media management for two small companies alongside sports. About 10 hours a week. He earned an extra $1,500 a month. And more importantly -- he built skills and references that opened doors to a marketing agency after sports.
Entrepreneurship
Sports give you a great foundation for business. Discipline, resilience, ability to work under pressure, competitiveness. Many athletes launch their own businesses during their career -- personal training, sports camps, online courses, e-commerce.
Internships and mentoring
Some companies offer internships for active athletes. A few hours once a week. You won't be in the office every day, but you'll see how business works. You'll learn the basics. And most importantly -- you'll build connections.
The key to a dual career is flexibility.
Don't look for a 9-to-5 job. Look for work that fits around your training schedule. And look for an employer who understands that.
International programs for dual careers
Athlete365 Career+ (International Olympic Committee)
An IOC program offering athletes educational modules in areas like career planning, financial literacy, personal branding, and transitioning from sports. Available online and free for registered athletes.
ERASMUS+ Sport
The European Union funds projects focused on athletes' dual careers. These projects create educational platforms, mentoring programs, and partnerships between universities and sports organizations.
EAS (European Athlete as Student)
A network of European institutions supporting athletes in education. It connects universities, sports organizations, and government institutions. You can find universities across Europe offering special conditions for athletes.
Adecco Athlete Career Programme
A partnership between the IOC and staffing agency Adecco. It offers athletes career counseling, work internships, and connections with employers. It operates in more than 40 countries.
How to get started: A practical guide
Step 1: Figure out what interests you
Not what you should do. What interests you. What do you enjoy outside of sports. If you don't know, try answering these questions:
- What do you do in your free time when you're not training?
- What topic could you talk about for an hour without preparation?
- What problems do you see around you that you'd want to solve?
- Who do you admire outside of sports and why?
You don't need a clear answer. Just a direction. And that can be explored.
Step 2: Find a flexible format
Online courses: Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare -- thousands of courses in every field. From coding to marketing to psychology. Some are free, most cost $20 to $100.
Distance learning: If you want a degree, look for distance programs. Classes are usually on weekends or online.
Certifications: Coaching licenses, fitness certifications, nutrition, coaching -- relatively short programs (3 to 6 months) that give you a concrete qualification.
Step 3: Set a schedule
Don't say "I'll study when I have time." You'll never have time. Block specific hours in your calendar. For example: Monday and Wednesday 7-9 PM = study time. And stick to it like training.
Because it IS training. Training for your future.
Step 4: Tell people
Your coach. Your teammates. Your family. "I'm starting to study/work alongside sports." Say it out loud. First, it creates accountability. Second, the people around you will help -- or at least won't be surprised when you say you can't hang out because you're studying.
Step 5: Be patient
Results won't come in a week. Not even in a month. But in a year, you'll be in a completely different place. In two years, you'll have skills and experience that set you apart from other athletes. And in three years, you'll be ready for anything.
2 hours a day. 5 days a week. In a year, that's 520 hours.
That's more than a semester of college. More than most online courses. And more than enough to gain a new skill or qualification.
What a dual career gives you (and what it takes)
What it gives
- The certainty that you have somewhere to go when sports end
- Financial stability and independence
- Better mental health and a wider perspective
- Skills and contacts outside the sports bubble
- Confidence that you can handle more than just sports
What it takes
- Free time (but you'd waste it on social media anyway)
- Comfort (but comfort never pushed anyone forward)
- Maybe a few people who don't get it (but they're not important to you)
The takeaway
A dual career isn't for everyone. But for most athletes, it's the smartest investment they can make during their career.
Thanks to sports, you have qualities that most people don't -- discipline, resilience, the ability to plan and maintain a routine. Use them beyond sports too. Because one day you won't walk onto the field. And on that day, you want to know where you're going instead.
Start right now. You don't have to do everything at once. One step is enough. One course. One conversation. One evening where instead of scrolling, you open something that moves you forward.
The Mental Edge: 25 Mental Techniques for Athletes
Balancing sports and building a career takes a strong mind. Learn the techniques that help.
Learn more →If you're curious about how to leverage your sports experience at work, check out Transferable skills from sports.
Tip: If you're interested in working with your mind and handling pressure, check out the e-book The Mental Edge: 25 mental techniques for athletes.