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THE PATH I AM ON

JOB POSTING: PROFESSIONAL VOLLEYBALL PLAYER

11/16/2018

3 Comments

 
Salary:
Ranges from 4,000 USD to 1.8 million USD
Full payment of salary is not guaranteed
Time of payment is at discretion of management and subject to change
Pregnancy results in immediate termination of contract
Location:
Everywhere, except North America
Hours:
24/7, on-call
Schedule released monthly, maybe weekly or possibly daily 
Days off are not guaranteed
No personal days, no mental health days, no stress leave
​No vacation
Description:
            Seeking a highly-skilled athlete who is capable of performing his or her sport every single day for the duration of the athletic season while maintaining top physical condition. 
Details:
  • Team will most likely purchase a flight for the athlete and may be given less than 24 hours notice of departure date. 
  • Housing to be determined upon arrival. Housing may range from a hotel room to a house. Furnishings and toiletries unknown. May live with multiple co-workers or alone. 
  • Be prepared to lose all the comforts of home. Athlete should pack enough clothing for different seasons, staple food items that cannot be purchased abroad, and anything that will make him or her feel more at home. All must fit into maximum two suitcases.
  • Upon arrival, athlete is now owned by the team. Loss of freedom and loss of control are to be expected.  This is a business and the athlete is now property of the Club.
  • Athlete is NOT on vacation. 
Required Qualifications:
  • ​​Athletic – must be willing to be physically active every single day. Activity ranges from weights and conditioning to lengthy practices (1-2 times a day). Anything less than 100% of athlete’s effort will be noted.
  • Talented - athlete must not only have talent, but be able to use that talent under pressure from teammates, coaches, management, fans and self. The athlete's enjoyment of season will strongly be correlated with performance.  
  • Punctual – being late is not allowed unless you are in the hospital or dead. Athlete must find a way to be at every team mandated event minimum seven minutes early. If not early, athlete is late and will be subject to punishment.
  • Obedient - be prepared to have limited choice in attire when abroad. Majority of athlete's time will be spent in matching outfits as co-workers. Athlete must be able to follow all team rules whether he or she agrees with them or not. 
  • Adaptable – must adapt to a foreign country, new culture and customs, new people, new coach, new system of play, new accommodations, new cuisine, and new way of life.  The quicker he or she can adapt, the better it will be for all parties involved.
  • Flexible – see above section --> Hours. 
  • Resilient - must be able to crash, slide and dive into a gym floor at high speed and potentially jump every single day anywhere between 60-300 times. 
Helpful Qualifications: ​
  • Resourcefulness will help athlete when he or she has no wifi, no heat, no running water, and/or no mode of transportation.
  • Self-sufficient humans will have an edge.
  • Introverts will enjoy the copious amounts of alone time. Extroverts must be creative.
  • Athletes who enjoy binge-watching Netflix will thrive.
  • Ability to wake up early or stay awake past midnight to FaceTime with loved ones in North America is helpful. 
  • People who are good at seizing the moment and taking advantage of free days or possibly free weekends is an asset.
  • Willingness to learn a new language will help to understand practices and recognize when he or she is the topic of locker room conversation.
  • Mental stability against body shaming, negative feedback and ridicule is suggested. 
  • Someone who is good at being alone with thoughts, feelings and emotions will have an easier time staying sane. 
Disclaimers:
Athlete must sign contract prior to arrival. Athlete is subject to fines/sanctions if breach of contract. Athlete may be subject to all forms of abuse. 

3 Comments
Wyzon Egatiff
11/19/2018 06:34:31 pm

Why so negative, Megan? While most of what you say may be true, why not also share the positives of the job many dream of?

Reply
Becky Zeeman
11/19/2018 07:42:06 pm

Love how raw and honest this is. In response to the first comment ^ the good and glamorous parts are all you ever hear and see about professional athletes. I wish I was better equipped and more informed about what to really expect before playing abroad for the times that did get challenging in so many different ways, because boy oh boy did they get tough. Thanks for sharing in such a creative and comical way!

Reply
Megan
11/20/2018 12:35:56 am

THANK YOU for reading and for the comment. I am glad you received it the way I intended. Creative and comical. I am very grateful for the gift of volleyball, but also enjoy being as real and honest about the experience as possible. Thanks again.

Reply



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    Author: Megan Cyr

     Born and raised in Canada. College educated in America. Currently residing wherever volleyball takes me.
    ​Living loved. 

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