Hockey is a highly skilled sport, but also quite a competitive one. As a result, finding the right people to play it professionally can be challenging. Fortunately, there are also opportunities for students to get involved in the sport and gain valuable experience, which could lead them to a comfortable life after college.
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The Salaries Might Surprise You
Thanks to the increasing popularity of hockey in the United States and other parts of the world, more and more people are getting the opportunity to play the sport professionally. This means that there are more openings for students to get involved in the scouting process. In fact, hockey is one of the few sports where you can make a living just by watching and reporting on high school games.
Hockey is a highly skilled sport, but also quite a competitive one. As a result, finding the right people to play it professionally can be challenging. Fortunately, there are also opportunities for students to get involved in the sport and gain valuable experience, which could lead them to a comfortable life after college.
The Opportunity For Students
The best part of this whole scenario is that it provides college students with valuable job experience, while also giving them a foot in the door to an exciting career in hockey. To be able to do both, you have to be willing to put in the time and effort to learn the game. Luckily, the open road ahead is welcoming, and there are plenty of opportunities to further your education and gain valuable experience. You might just have to be willing to look for them.
The Longer View
Although the immediate prospects for students who get involved in hockey seem positive, it is also important to look at the bigger picture. Since becoming a professional scout in the National Hockey League, Dave Tippett has had enough time to reflect on his career, and he has some discouraging words for would-be students who are considering getting involved in the sport.
“The bottom line is, if you truly want to be a scout, you have to love the game and be willing to learn it, and there are very few jobs available for people who don’t love the game,” Tippett told Luke Andrews of The Washington Post. “I think it can be a great job for someone who loves to learn, but in terms of getting paid, it’s not a good job for someone who doesn’t love the game. You have to understand that.”
Tippett’s points about the relative lack of financial reward are quite valid. While hockey is a sport that is enjoying an unprecedented popularity, finding the right people to play it professionally can be quite challenging, especially since many contracts are only for a few seasons. For the foreseeable future, at least.
The Importance Of Scout Accuracy
Scout accuracy is of the utmost importance. It takes a lot of practice and experience to be able to judge the talent of a teenage hockey player, especially since many of these players are likely still developing physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you’re not careful, you could end up training and/or playing with someone whose talent level is quite different from yours. This, in turn, could lead you to having less fun, and maybe even compromising your physical and mental health. Knowing how to properly judge talent could also help you land your dream job, and give you the best chance at enjoying it.
Judging someone’s talent level is not an easy task, which is why experienced scouts get paid a lot, and why it’s a common profession for hockey enthusiasts. If you’re able to land a job as a scout in the NHL, or another major league, you’ll be able to do it because of your experience, not your grades.
The Growth Of The Sport
Besides the increasing opportunities for students who get involved in hockey, the sport itself is also growing at an amazing rate. In the 1970s, there were only about 200,000 ice rinks across the country. Now, there are approximately 500,000, according to Kevin Daley of The National Hockey League.
“It’s incredible to think that hockey, which started as a game played by mainly white men in the northern parts of North America, has spread around the world, and is such a popular sport that it has its own professional league,” Daley said. “It’s a testament to the game and its incredible popularity that this has happened. People are playing and watching the sport for the first time in many different countries.”
The NHL’s Role In All Of This
The National Hockey League has a vested interest in promoting the sport, and in educating the public about it. One of the ways they do this is by identifying and supporting talented student-athletes who are willing to continue their education after college. This is why they are so supportive of students who get involved in hockey, and it’s also why they pay so much attention to the scouting process.
“There’s a special place in hockey for students who want to continue their education,” Daley said. “You’re a good student, you love the game, and you’re passionate about it. We try to assist in any way we can.”
This attitude is refreshing, and it demonstrates the NHL’s commitment to developing the next generations of hockey players and fans. One would think that getting paid to play a kid’s sport would be a no-brainer for them.
Summary
Hockey is a highly skilled sport, but also quite a competitive one. Since becoming a professional scout in the National Hockey League, Dave Tippett has had enough time to reflect on his career, and he has some discouraging words for would-be students who are considering getting involved in the sport.
“The bottom line is, if you truly want to be a scout, you have to love the game and be willing to learn it, and there are very few jobs available for people who don’t love the game,” Tippett told Luke Andrews of The Washington Post. “I think it can be a great job for someone who loves to learn, but in terms of getting paid, it’s not a good job for someone who doesn’t love the game. You have to understand that.”
Tippett’s points about the relative lack of financial reward are quite valid. While hockey is a sport that is enjoying an unprecedented popularity, finding the right people to play it professionally can be quite challenging, especially since many contracts are only for a few seasons. For the foreseeable future, at least.