WHAT CAN I DO WITH A SPORTS MANAGEMENT DEGREE?
“Sports do not build character, they reveal it.” – John Wooden
With a degree in sports management, you can qualify for a long list of behind-the-scenes careers in the exciting world of athletics. Many coaches, trainers, facilities managers, sports marketing and business professionals, and player agents hold academic backgrounds in this dynamic field. This document includes detailed information about various sports management careers and how college functions as a key path to entry into this arena.
Think about how many individuals make-up the personnel that it takes for a sport to be played in front of fans and broadcast to the world via TV or internet services. Thousands and thousands. In the United States there are 5,300+ colleges and universities. The vast majority have athletics in some form or function, even if it is at the rec and intramural level. Someone still manages those levels. Then add the hundreds and hundreds of major and minor league franchises in North America.
The opportunities to work in this field are endless and only growing and growing as a consumer base demands more live content.
WHY A CAREER IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT
Sports management is a broad field that includes professionals with many different skill sets. Some work directly with athletes, while others focus on the administrative, marketing, and operational aspects of amateur and professional sports. The aptitudes and abilities of sports management professionals vary by discipline, but they invariably include a passion for the world of athletics and a thorough understanding of the commercial factors that make the sports industry unique.
Beyond love of the game, successful sports management professionals need unwavering dedication and a strong commitment to teamwork. The industry also attracts people driven to win: players might get all the glory, but they represent only a fraction of the organization-wide effort needed to capture championships and build legacies.
SPORTS MANAGEMENT CAREER OUTLOOK
Careers in sports management tend to be highly competitive -- especially in the glamorous and high-profile world of major professional team sports. Even so, the industry always has a place for capable, hard-working, results-oriented professionals.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts increasing opportunity in this field, projecting that the demand for coaches and scouts will increase by 11% between 2018 and 2028. Career paths in advertising and marketing -- jobs often related to sports management -- are also projected to experience above-average levels of growth over the next several years.
SKILLS GAINED WITH A SPORTS MANAGEMENT DEGREE
Sports management programs develop valuable hard and soft skills that students will draw on time and again in their future careers. Specifics depend on your area of interest; for instance, sports agents require different knowledge and expertise than facilities managers or sports marketers.
Even so, practically all sports management degrees focus on developing a core set of adaptable and versatile proficiencies. A few of these are described below.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Careers in sports management depend on effective, well-developed communication skills. At the professional level, sports organizations break down into many different departments, and cross-department communication often needs to be brief, efficient, and precise. People throughout the organization have major demands on their time and must balance many priorities, and strong communicators make everyone's jobs easier.
DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
At the coaching, organizational, and executive levels, sports management professionals must constantly make difficult decisions. A strong ability to analyze statistical data while still accounting for the human elements that drive athletic performance and the business side of the industry can take you a long way in the sports world.
ANALYTICAL MINDSET
Digital technologies have brought about changes in the ways professional organizations track and evaluate their player personnel, prospects, and business strategies. Data analytics now represent a major piece of the sports management landscape, and a high level of data literacy can significantly boost your career prospects.
STRONG ETHICS
Many sports management careers require professionals to make nuanced ethical and moral decisions. Having a strong and principled ethical framework in place can help you cultivate a favorable reputation, especially if you aspire to become a sports agent or work in organizational management.
SYSTEMATIC THINKING
No matter what branch of sports management you work in, you will function as part of a larger system. Sports organizations consist of many interconnected and constantly moving parts, and you will need to be highly organized and agile as you respond to changing needs.
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT
At the bachelor's level, sports management programs move beyond generalities and offer learners the opportunity to concentrate their studies in specific areas of interest. For example, bachelor's programs in sports management may offer specializations in coaching, exercise science, or player representation. These concentrations build off core requirements that cover the essentials of sports marketing, sports administration, ethics in sports, and key principles of human resource management in sports organizations.
Generally, a specialized bachelor's degree functions as the minimum credential needed to gain entry into sports management careers with growth potential. A bachelor's also provides an excellent academic foundation for sports-focused MBA programs and other graduate-level degrees.
HOW TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER
In a high-profile, competitive industry like sports management, networking is one of the most impactful ways you can advance your career after completing your postsecondary education. Strive to expand your network of personal and professional connections at every opportunity and remember that the skills you develop and the contacts you make by performing well in entry-level positions can pay dividends in your future career.
This section explores and explains tangible, action-oriented steps you can take to boost your career prospects after graduation.
CERTIFICATIONS AND / OR LICENSURE
Some careers in sports management demand optional or mandatory licenses or professional certifications. For example, many major pro leagues require player agents to obtain credentials in order to represent athletes. Credentialing processes vary among organizations, but they typically include rigid qualification and testing standards. Some U.S. jurisdictions also mandate that sports agents obtain and maintain separate licenses to represent players that live or work in the state.
Similarly, combat sports, such as boxing and mixed martial arts, also frequently require officials, trainers, coaches, and athletes to obtain state-based licenses to participate in official events. Athletic training is another example of a regulated sports management profession; trainers who work for amateur organizations, such as high school or collegiate athletics leagues, must hold profession-specific certifications, in addition to state-issued teaching licenses.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Continuing education can be used to supplement a degree in sports management. Continuing education can take the form of informal sessions, such as seminars or open courses, or formal continuing education programs.
Formal programs often lead to certificates of completion and may explore subjects like advanced statistical analytics, e-sports management, facilities management, international sports management, and sports marketing. Alternatively, you have the option to head back to college and upgrade to a higher sports management degree.
NEXT STEPS
Many major sports leagues, teams, and player agencies offer internship opportunities; however, given the high levels of demand for a limited number of available openings, these may be difficult to land and usually entail a highly competitive application process. Thus, no matter what branch of sports management you plan to work in, networking will likely be a critical factor in your career success.
Joining a professional organization can open a lot of doors for students looking to expand their networks. Prominent examples include the Sport Marketing Association and the North American Society for Sport Management.
WORK AS A SPORTS MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL
People commonly associate sports management careers with professional leagues and teams, and such organizations certainly offer many employment opportunities. However, people who aspire to work in the sports industry can also seek jobs in many other places.
High schools, colleges, and amateur athletics associations all hire sports management professionals in various capacities. Player agencies are another common job setting, as are corporations that own and manage sports arenas, stadiums, and event venues. Thinking outside the box, you could also seek employment with data analytics firms, law firms, and other professional practices that have sports leagues and teams on their client rosters.
SPORTS ARE A MAJOR FORCE IN NORTH AMERICA AS WELL AS WORLDWIDE.
THE NEXT TIME YOU WATCH A MAJOR SPORTING EVENT, SEE IF YOU CAN NAME HOW MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES TOOK PART IN THE PROCESS: FROM ARENA ACQUISITION TO TICKETS TO MARKETING TO TRAVEL TO TRAINING TO GAME-DAY PREP TO FIELD PREP TO ARENA MANAGEMENT TO TELEVISION TO INTERNET TO AGENTS TO PLAYERS TO COACHES TO OWNERS.
