SALT Skills
Soft Skills:
1. Leadership: Many athletes have experience leading teams or mentoring peers, which can
be honed into strong leadership abilities.
2. Communication: Athletes frequently need to communicate effectively with coaches,
teammates, and other stakeholders, which can be transferred to professional
environments.
3. Teamwork: Collaborating with others toward a common goal is essential in both sports
and the workplace.
4. Time Management: Balancing academics, sports, and personal life teaches athletes how
to manage their time efficiently.
5. Resilience: Overcoming challenges, setbacks, and losses in sports helps build mental
toughness and resilience.
6. Adaptability: Athletes are often required to adjust strategies quickly based on new
information, which is valuable in fast-paced work environments.
7. Work Ethic: Consistent training and discipline help develop a strong work ethic that can
be applied to professional tasks.
Work Skills:
1. Project Management: Understanding how to manage resources, tasks, and timelines,
much like managing game strategies or team responsibilities.
2. Analytical Thinking: Athletes often analyze game performance and adjust their
strategies, which translates well to problem-solving in the workplace.
3. Goal Setting: Setting and achieving personal and team goals in sports can teach athletes
how to establish and pursue objectives in a professional setting.
4. Networking: Engaging with various people (coaches, other teams, sponsors) builds
networking skills, important for career development.
5. Public Speaking: Speaking in front of crowds or media develops confidence in public
speaking, which is useful in many career paths.
These skills prepare student-athletes for a variety of roles, from leadership positions to
collaborative team environments, in both sports and professional industries.
