Jocks–you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. Maybe you’ve always tended to go for the athletic type or maybe you’ve grown up wishing they would all go to hell. Either way, it’s hard to deny that athletes do often seem to have it all. This isn’t a coincidence folks, people who have played sports since they were kids do seem to have stronger relationships later in life. While playing sports doesn’t necessarily give people the compassion and emotional depth needed to sustain a long-term relationship, it does give them skills that will come in handy down the line.

This doesn’t mean we all need to chase after Olympic or Professional level competitors but if you find someone who enjoys sports and still plays a game of pickup every now and then, keep them close. Unless they treat you like shit…. then you can give them YOUR best roundhouse kick to the curb.

Here are some reasons why you should date an athlete:

1. They are dedicated and committed

When you play a sport, especially at the competitive level, you learn early on that you need to put in the effort to get the win. Early morning practices in the middle of winter? Yeah, they suck and you’d much rather stay in bed but you drag your ass out into the darkness and work hard to meet your goals. This is much like a relationship. There will be shitty times but if you know the outcome will be worth it in the end, you will work through it. Athletes see the end goal rather than the obstacles in the way making them prone to want to achieve good results. They know that commitment to whatever they love usually provides success so when they’re in a relationship with someone they love, they will try their best to make it worth it.

2. They are driven

One of the most attractive qualities in a person is drive. Athletes learn about drive early on and it often follows them throughout life and into the workplace and their relationships. Athletes want the best. They want to win, even if it means beating their own record. They have a competitive streak by nature and this can benefit your relationship in the long run. When you date someone with drive you will find that they are always looking for ways to win your heart. Whether it’s little gestures, small thoughts, or big surprises, someone with drive will continuously keep trying to get the most out of the relationship and will stop at nothing to make you happy.

3. They follow the rules

From the beginning, athletes are trained to do things properly. They don’t want to win by cheating. They want to win on their own merit. They are taught to make the right plays and follow the rules of the game and if they don’t they will be docked points or be called offside. In life, an athlete knows that playing by the book will help them achieve the best results. They don’t veer off track too often and they are intent on following the rules of life. When you’re dating an athlete you can bet they want the same thing from their relationship as they do from the game: to win the gold. If you are their gold they will stay on track and not give it up easily because they know how hard they worked to earn it.

4. They Never Give Up

They don’t give up during the final minutes of the game and they sure as hell won’t give up on you when you’re down by a goal in the final seconds of your relationship. They will try harder and give their all knowing that a comeback is possible. They will always exhaust all possibilities and never throw in the towel before the buzzer sounds. If an athlete really loves you, then you can be sure your relationship will never end “just because” and they will never shy away from throwing a Hail Mary pass when the clock is running out. They will do whatever is possible to make your relationship work and they sure as hell won’t give up on you for no reason.

Sure, there are many wonderful boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, and wives out there who have never played a sport in their life. This doesn’t mean they aren’t perfectly awesome people to be with as well. It’s also true that some athletes may be major assholes, who are prone to cheating and who will never settle down. At the end of the day, if you can find someone who has a passion (be it in sports, music, art, cars, or cooking) then you’re probably on the right track.

The key is passion. Be with someone who knows passion and who has had fire within their eyes and you will know love. It doesn’t matter what they do, as long as they understand the concept of dedication, loyalty, trust, and respect then you can bet they will be a good partner. Most of all, if they treat you right and make you laugh every day then ultimately, it doesn’t matter if they can throw a football or not, what matter is in your heart.

Play hard but love harder,
The Love Hawk