Professional and Amateur Performers
Professional and Amateur Performers: Basic Concept
- A professional performer is an athlete who earns their living by participating in competitive sports. They often have contracts, endorsements, and salaries.
- An amateur performer plays for the love of the sport and typically does not receive financial compensation for their performance.
Differences Between Professional and Amateur Athletes
- Training: Professional athletes receive intense and structured training compared to amateur athletes whose training can be less frequent and more self-directed.
- Performance Level: As a result of high intensity training and support, professionals often perform at a higher standard than amateurs.
- Monetary Compensation: While professionals earn money from their sports, many amateur sports have strict rules against athletes receiving payment.
- Lifestyle: The athlete’s sport often defines the lifestyle of a professional athlete, which includes diet, training schedules and leisure activities.
Social and Cultural Influences on Professional and Amateur Sport
- Media Influence: Professional sports often gain more media attention and commercial interest than amateur sports.
- Sporting Culture: The culture of a sport, including its values and norms, can vary between the professional and amateur levels. This can influence behaviours and attitudes of performers and spectators.
- Accessibility: Amateur sports are usually more accessible and inclusive, often involving local community groups and promoting mass participation.
Ethical Considerations in Professional and Amateur Sport
- Fair Play: Adherence to the rules, respecting opponents, and maintaining integrity are crucial at both professional and amateur levels. However, the stakes are often higher in professional sports, increasing the potential for unethical behaviour.
- Doping and Performance Enhancing Drugs: Usage is potentially higher in professional sports where there is significant pressure to perform and succeed.
- Exploitation: There might be instances of exploitation in both realms, but professional athletes are more prone to being exploited commercially through over-exposure or restrictive contracts.