So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete (So You Want To Be A...)
About
WINNER of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award
The talent got you here. Everyone at this level has talent. What separates the ones who make it from the ones who almost make it is not something you can see on a highlight reel. It is what happens in the hours before the arena opens, in the training sessions that no one films, in the moment when everything hurts and you choose to continue anyway. Talent is the entry fee. Everything else is the work.
So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete takes young readers ages 10–14 inside one of the most competitive and most demanding pursuits on earth — not the contract-signing version, but the real one. The years of training and sacrifice that happen long before a single professional game. The specific discipline of developing a body and a mind that can perform at the absolute limit of human capability — consistently, under pressure, when everything is on the line and the margin between winning and losing is smaller than most people can imagine. The team of coaches, trainers, nutritionists, sports psychologists, and teammates working in careful coordination so that one athlete, in one moment, can do something extraordinary. The performance that goes exactly as prepared — and the one that requires you to find something you didn’t know you had.
This is a book about what professional athletes actually do: the periodized training programs they follow to build peak performance at exactly the right moment, the sports science and nutrition they study to treat their bodies as precision instruments, the mental performance techniques they develop to manage pressure, failure, and the relentless scrutiny that comes with competing at the highest level, and the strategic intelligence they bring to competition — because at the professional level, physical gifts alone are never enough. It’s also a book about what the career costs, what it gives back, and why the people who live it say that nothing in life has ever asked more of them — or given more back.
Inside, young readers will discover:
- What a professional athlete’s training life actually looks like — from pre-season conditioning to in-season performance to the recovery that makes both possible
- The sports science behind elite performance — biomechanics, nutrition, sleep, and what it truly takes to optimize a human body
- The mental demands of competing at the highest level — and how athletes develop the psychological resilience that separates good from great
- The full arc of an athletic career — its demands, its brevity, and how the best athletes prepare for what comes after
- What young people can do right now to discover if this might be their calling
Honest, specific, and genuinely illuminating, So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete doesn’t talk down to young readers — it brings them all the way in. Because the child who wants to know what this work is really like deserves a real answer.
For readers who feel the pull toward something that demands everything and gives back in equal measure. For the kid who is never just playing — who is always competing, always measuring, always reaching for something just beyond their current best.
The next great athlete is training right now. Somewhere, in a gym or on a field or in a pool, they are doing the work that no one sees yet. Maybe that athlete is you.
Ages 10–14 · Nonfiction · Careers & Professions · Illustrated
Praise for this book
"So You Want to Be a Professional Athlete, by Linda Soules, pulls back the curtain on a job kids usually meet through highlights. Part of a wider 'what you might become' series for curious tweens, it takes ambition seriously and still refuses to sell the path as simple or painless.
If you have ever sat beside a child who thinks pros mostly 'play,' this is the reality check you needed. Soules maps the hidden ninety percent: recovery, nutrition, film, travel, and mental training next to the grunt work in the gym. She does not soft-pedal injury, public failure, or how strange life feels when the sport stops being your whole address. Moments like Derek Redmond's finish with his father land hard, and the margin between medal and fourth still stings in a good way. She nudges kids toward multi-sport curiosity, loving movement, and losing with honest questions. It feels like straight talk from someone who respects your intelligence.
The prose is clear and reads well at the kitchen table, with short sentences that steady the talk when sleep, anxiety, or money show up. The weave of science, career craft, and biography suits curious browsers more than kids who want one unbroken story. Now and then the detail stack runs deep. Through it all the voice stays respectful and never talks down.
For parents raising a practice-obsessed ten- or twelve-year-old, this guide is a strong shelf mate: honest about cost, generous with dignity, and clear that 'professional' begins long before anyone in the stands knows your name."
So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete by Linda Soules is a well-written book that will inspire children aspiring to be athletes with the necessary information about what the profession entails. Linda begins by describing who a professional athlete is and what they do outside of the field, court, or track. The bulk of a professional athlete's job is built on routines that train their body to do what the human body won't ordinarily do. These routines include physical maintenance, such as proper sleep, eating with the precision of a scientist to enhance performance and recovery, training, and more. Linda further shares what a day in the life of a professional athlete is like, starting from 6:30 AM, while also highlighting the most important qualities of a professional athlete.
I enjoyed every aspect of this book from start to finish because it was both informative and educational. While it is good for children to dream big about becoming professional athletes, it is also important that they understand the reality of achieving success in any competition, which Linda brilliantly discusses in this book. I was inspired by the stories of famous professional athletes, some of whom I got to know from this book. The fun facts, colorful pages, and brilliant illustrations make reading more engaging for children. The writing is concise, well-paced, and organized. Themes featured include fitness, hard work, and teamwork, among others. I recommend So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete by Linda Soules to all young readers, sports fans, and anyone aspiring to become a professional athlete.
"So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete by Linda Soules is a smart and encouraging nonfiction guide for kids who dream about playing sports at the highest level. Instead of focusing only on fame, trophies, and big game moments, this book shows what being a professional athlete really looks like behind the scenes. Soules makes it clear that talent matters, but it is only the beginning. The real work comes through practice, discipline, training, recovery, and learning how to handle pressure.
One of the best parts of this children's book is how honest it is without being discouraging. Young readers learn about strength training, nutrition, sleep, film study, mental toughness, and the team of coaches, trainers, nutritionists, and sports psychologists who help athletes perform their best. The book also explains the less glamorous parts of the job, like injuries, early mornings, strict routines, public failure, and the fact that an athletic career does not last forever. That honesty makes the book feel useful, especially for kids who may think professional athletes mostly just show up and play.
The writing is clear, casual, and easy for kids to follow, while still treating them like serious readers. Soules doesn't talk down to her audience, and she gives enough detail to make the world of elite sports feel real. The colorful illustrations, fun facts, real athlete stories, glossary, and 'day in the life' sections help keep the book engaging. Some parts are packed with information, so it may appeal most to curious readers who enjoy learning how things work, but sports-loving kids will find plenty here to keep their attention. I also liked how it mentions that 'The mental dimension is as demanding as the physical.' I don't think many children's book go into this aspect enough, and I was happy to see this book tackle that side of sports.
So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete is a great choice for young athletes, sports fans, families, teachers, and coaches. It gives kids a realistic look at the hard work behind greatness while still encouraging them to dream big. More than anything, it shows that being 'professional' starts long before the crowd cheers your name, it starts with the choices you make when no one is watching."
"Informative and short read about what a career as a professional athlete actually looks like. The author shows all aspects of the life of an athlete and encourages curious kids to try for themselves."
"At some point over the last year I’ve heard my son and his friends say they want to be a professional athlete. They all think it’s just going to practice and playing a few games – seems very glamorous to them. This book helped my son understand the mental toughness needed to be a professional athlete. I loved that it broke down a day in the life of an athlete and highlighted the tough parts of the job in addition to the fun parts. I also appreciated the variety of genders and races in the illustrations."
"A wonderful read for kids who want to be great in athletics. I love the illustrations in this book. They're very detailed and make sure to drive home a lot of the most important themes. This book goes from the first thought you have about becoming a professional, during, and even after becoming a professional athlete. It covers how you have to train your body, nutrition, the absolute whole hearted dedication, and even the whole team you have that is dedicated to you and your body during your career. It also makes sure to talk about how important it is to be a part of a team that understands what your life is like and even how so many lessons translate to jobs later in life."
"Great book for young athletes! It shows that becoming a professional athlete takes hard work, discipline, and dedication—not just talent. The examples and visuals make it engaging and inspiring. Highly recommend!"
"This was a very well written book outlining the dedication and hard work involved becoming an athlete."
"This is a great book to introduce all the aspects of a professional athlete's world to an aspiring athlete. It explains and sheds light on the behind the scenes requirements that are hidden from public view... While everyone sees how fun the competition is, few understand what all goes into being a professional athlete."
"It's hard work! Not just for the body but mentally too. I loved that this book mentions flow state... It's effortless and the world around me disappears... I think that's really important when finding your passion in life."
"A fantastic read for aspiring young athletes! This book emphasizes that success in professional sports stems from commitment, perseverance, and discipline—not simply talent. The real-life examples and eye-catching visuals keep readers motivated and engaged throughout. I loved it!"
"Very informative yet quick book. This book does a great job at realistically depicting how becoming a professional athlete takes a lot of hard work and dedication, not just talent. The book was interesting and motivating, and it made me understand how important practice, teamwork, and never giving up are if you want to achieve your goals. I feel this would be great for high school student who are considering colleges geared towards athletics."
"Linda Soules has developed another book in the 'So You Want To Be A…' series! In this edition, she delves into the world of professional sports. A competitive and cut-throat occupation in the real world, children often only see the romanticized series of events as the ball swishes through the net, the runner slices through the ribbon with their final strides, or the Olympian swimmer receives their first gold medal. Soules explains, with kindness and encouragement, the training, diet, and recovery each of these athletes must focus on to optimize success, even when they don’t always win first place. This book is perfect for the middle school athlete in your life, and it encourages the dedication and reality check required for such a competitive career goal."
"It gives detailed information about everything involved in becoming and being an athlete. It goes through what is expected to become an athlete, what tools are needed for the sport, and how to maintain. My son enjoyed it as well because it helped him to better understand sports and what he needs to do to strive to accomplish being an athlete for school as well as in the future."
"This book taught me how much training goes on behind the scenes. I had no idea how much sleep and diet affected the athlete’s ability. This book had great fun facts and was rather inspiring."
"I found every aspect of this book to be helpful and interesting. The information was factual and intriguing. The pictures were colorful and enticing. The most important qualities were inspirational. The glossary, authors note, about this series filled in all the gaps to the questions I had. I read this to my children who are on the verge of getting into competitive sports more seriously and they enjoyed it too."
"What a great and informative read. For me especially as a professional athlete, I identify with the message of the book and would love for all kids to read. Very resourceful and speaks on knowledge that can be understood by young ages."
"This book breaks down all aspects of a pro athlete, life, and the sports science behind how to be an elite performer – bio mechanics, nutrition, sleep, and what it takes to make sure you can perform always at your highest level. There are real life, examples and eye-catching visuals to help the young reader, staying engaged and motivated. As a former teacher, I would definitely recommend this to my student athletes."
"I really enjoyed reading 'So You Want to Be a Professional Athlete' by Linda Soules. It was an easy and fun book to read, but it also had a lot of useful information in it. The book explains what it really takes to become a professional athlete, not just the exciting parts people usually think about. It talks about hard work, practice, dedication, and how important it is to stay focused both in sports and in school. I liked that the author didn’t make becoming a pro athlete sound easy, but she still made it feel possible for kids who are willing to work hard.
One thing I liked most was how the book was written in a way kids can actually understand and enjoy. It keeps your attention and doesn’t feel boring or too serious. I read this book with my kids, and we had a lot of good conversations while reading it together. My kids especially liked learning about the different paths athletes take and the sacrifices they make to reach their goals. It inspired them to think more about teamwork, responsibility, and following their dreams.
Like most of Linda Soules’ books, this one is a great read for kids. She has a way of teaching important lessons while still making the book entertaining. I would definitely recommend this book to families, teachers, and young readers who love sports or dream about becoming athletes someday. It’s encouraging, informative, and enjoyable from beginning to end."
"This was an excellent book. The focus is on the important life skills a professional athlete needs rather than on winning and glory. Children who read this can gain a realistic sense of the amount of work it takes to be professional, and even apply it to other work when they are older."
"I loved this book! I have a daughter who plays elite soccer, so a lot of the things in this book hit home. Good information about the behind the scenes...the work that really goes into what makes an exceptional athlete. A good read for anyone seriously playing a sport."