From Athletes to Entrepreneurs: Participation in Youth Sports as a Precursor to Future Business Endeavors

Abstract

Building upon athletes’ positive attributes recognized by the theory of deliberate practice and research in sports psychology, this study examines the relationship between a person’s participation in competitive sports during formative years and the propensity for creating a new venture later in life. The analysis of the biographies of 2,084 American executives reveals that individuals who participated in competitive sports in their youth are more likely to become entrepreneurs. Our research indicates that participation in individual sports (such as tennis, running, and swimming), but not in team sports, drives the results. Moreover, being a star youth athlete further enhances the likelihood of entrepreneurial action. Thus, we contribute to research on personal characteristics in entrepreneurship by shedding light on the relevance and importance of an athletic background and qualities developed through sports to entrepreneurs. We discuss the practical policy implications of our findings.

Keywords: Sports psychology; youth athletes; deliberate practice; new venture creation

JEL Classification: D91, J24, L26, M13, Z22