Most of the parents that come to us for training realize that the chances their kid will become a professional athlete are slim to none. You have to have the right genetic makeup, the right amount of dedication, practice, and a little luck.

Let’s just say you really, really, wanted your kid to be a pro athlete. Instead of wishing and hoping this would happen. Let’s take an intelligent look at which sport might give you the best chance of being a pro athlete and making the CASH.

First things first. We want to pick a sport where money can be made. So we need to eliminate sports like racquetball, wake boarding, surfing, etc. Most of the sports that make up either the summer or winter Olympics are useless too. Why would you want to dedicate your entire life on a sport where you’ll have to get a 9 to 5 job that has nothing to do with your sport just to make a 5 figure salary when it is all said and done.

That’s just crazy talk!

Now we all know that if you have an athlete and you are a boy, we are going to have to forget football. Oh, I’m not talking about the potential to get concussions and be brain damaged for the rest of your life. Heck no. Out of the three major sports, they get paid the worst. The guaranteed money isn’t that great and after the free agency this season in basketball, it makes football look like chump change.

Speaking of basketball, that could definitely be an option. But, if you don’t get taller than 6’ 3”, your chances of even making the league are minimal. Let’s say you spend the first 17 years of your life playing basketball and end up being 5’ 9”. Well, there goes your shot at being successful at basketball and other sports cause you wasted all those years on basketball.

We need to take advantage of those young years so let’s not waste them on basketball.

Hockey? I don’t know about you, but now you got to learn how to skate and hit people. Plus that league seems to go on strike every 5 years and lose money. The point is to make a lot of money so no thanks.

Baseball. Now this might be a sport. If you make it, you could play for double digit years and the average league salary is 7 figures. If you are left handed and start improving your velocity in your pitches so that you can get up to over 90 mph, then you can become a relief pitcher and pitch a few innings every other game. Not bad.

As popular as soccer is, unless you are good enough to crack the Euro league, you aren’t going to make any money. I just heard a story about some of the women on this year’s world cup team who have to sleep at houses of people who volunteer to board them during different training sessions throughout the year. Not making much money here in the U.S.

Now tennis might be the best bet for both boys and girls. If you have the money for lessons, you can start young. While taking those lessons, play other sports to develop your athleticism. This will help you be well-rounded as an athlete.

You don’t have be an athlete that runs a fast 40 or jump high. You just have to be a good athlete and then adapt that athleticism to playing tennis. There is good money to be won and if you are an American do you know the accolades that will come if you win a grand slam??!!

Well that settles it for me. I’ve got a young kid, I’m going to start grooming her for tennis. Let the money start rolling in, I’m going to be rich. Because my kid will need a manager whose fee is 75%.

What sport do you think is the best bet for kids to be a pro and rich at (if we can dream for a second)? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo courtesy of Michael Duxbury on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelduxbury/