If you are passionate about sports and can see yourself working in a sports-related career, there are several options in the sports industry that can be rewarding and lucrative. Whether you are interested in actually playing sports for a career, want to report on the latest sporting events, or work directly with athletes, there are countless career options to consider. Working in sports can be a very fulfilling choice for those who love the industry, and it’s not always necessary to be an athlete yourself to create a successful and rewarding sporting career. Depending on your skills and the type of career that you want to get into, there are various different jobs in sports to choose from with something to suit every type of professional.
Sports Journalism
If you are always following the latest sports news, you might want to consider a career reporting on it. Sports journalists are specialist journalism professionals who focus on reporting sports-related news. To get into this career position and spend your time following teams and athletes, watching sports events, and reporting on the results as they come in, you may want to consider sports journalism graduate programs from Saint Bonaventure University.
To enroll in a graduate program, you will usually need to have a journalism or English background. Sports journalists are responsible for reporting on the results of sports events to fans and the general public, and it’s because of them that we are kept up to date on the biggest sporting events like the Superbowl and the Olympic Games. As a sports journalist, you might be working for several media organizations including TV channels, newspapers, websites, radio stations, or magazines to provide either written or broadcast news on the latest sporting events. The role often involves researching extensively and conducting interviews with players, coaches, and teams. Some sports journalists report on a wide range of sports and events, while others focus on a single sport or team.
Sports Reporter
Similar to the role of a sports journalist, a sports reporter is a professional who is responsible for providing the public and sports fans with the latest information on games, events, leagues, teams, and athletes. Unlike journalists that can work in print media, sports reporters tend to work in broadcast media, providing information through outlets like TV networks and radio stations. To work as a sports reporter, you will not only need journalism skills but also a solid knowledge of the sport that you are responsible for reporting on. Sports reporters will typically report on games and events while providing in-depth commentary and analyze the performance of the teams or athletes in real-time. Sports reporters are often former athletes themselves or experts in the specific sport; they will make predictions on the outcome for seasons, competitions, and games.
Football Coach
Football coaches are responsible for helping football players develop their skills on the field and improve their athletic performance. Coaches develop training schedules, advise players on the best practice methods, and help them develop the necessary skills to become successful at the sport that they play. Football coaches build strong relationships with players and play a key part in assessing their physical and mental health throughout the season. They are responsible for providing the support and help that players need, and tend to be experienced football players themselves. Coaches are needed to work with football players at various levels from amateur and high school to professional teams.
Personal Trainer
If you are interested in working closely with athletes to help them stay fit and healthy, then a role as a personal trainer might be an ideal choice for you. Personal trainers work with athletes to guide them through training regimens and regular workouts to ensure that they are in peak physical shape for playing their sport and getting the best results. Personal trainers will work closely with athletes and coaches to best determine the fitness goals for a certain athlete and develop tailored schedules for exercise and health to help them achieve these. They will work together with athletes to help them get to where they need to be in several areas including building muscle, stamina, and strength. Personal trainers will often work for entire sports teams or one-to-one with individual athletes.
Sports Marketer
If you love sports and want a career in marketing, a role as a sports marketer is a great way to combine these two passions. Sports marketers spend their time promoting teams, players, leagues, games, and sporting venues. In this role, you will need to be skilled at market research and have an awareness of and interest in the player, team, league, or venue that you are marketing. Successful sports marketers are often people who are able to think outside of the box and come up with creative ideas. In this role, your main goals might be to improve attendance at sporting events or increase viewers for broadcast events. Sports marketers may also be responsible for increasing purchases of sports merchandise and will use a variety of marketing strategies and media outlets to do this.
Sports Team Manager
A general manager oversees the team staff and handles all administrative tasks in relation to the sports team. They are responsible for planning the contract or drafting new athletes and develop and manage the budget for the team. General sports team managers are responsible for negotiating contacts with athletes and their agents, and they may often be responsible for advising on promoting certain players. These professionals are required to manage a range of different sports team types including basketball, football, hockey, soccer, and baseball.
Basketball Coach
If you enjoy basketball but would rather teach others to play the game than play it professionally yourself, you could enjoy a fulfilling career as a basketball coach. Coaches in this game are responsible for overseeing games and practice sessions, monitoring the progress of players, assisting players with workout routines and training, and providing advice and support to players both individually and as a team. Coaches work closely with basketball players at all levels to help them with setting goals for their careers and to provide encouragement, motivation, and advice to help them get there. Most of the time, basketball coaches are required to be professional players themselves, and a strong history in the game allows them to work with all teams at all levels from high school and amateur all the way to professional teams.
Athletic Scout
If you are skilled at spotting a good performance and want a career that allows you to have a say in the sports players of the future, you may want to consider a career as an athletic scout. Scouts are sports professionals who spend their time closely monitoring and identifying amateur athletes who have the potential to be successful in college or professional sports teams. As an athletic scout, your time will be spent observing these athletes in games, practice sessions, and working out to find the most promising individuals and help them take their career in sports further. You will need to be ready to keep up with the latest sports news and trends and work closely with coaches from various teams to find out more about which athletes and players have got the most potential.
Umpire
An umpire is responsible for monitoring games and enforcing the rules and regulations when needed. To work as an umpire, you will need to be an expert in the rules. A strong eye for detail and observational skills is also required for this role since you will be watching players closely throughout games to determine if rules have been broken and if a penalty should be issued. Umpires are required in every game where they need to remain focused throughout to quickly spot any violations of the rules and react as quickly as possible. Some umpires travel to different games and work for several different teams while others will work exclusively for a specific team.
Sports Psychologist
If you are interested in psychology along with being passionate about sports, then a career in sports psychology might be a good fit for you. Sports psychologists get the chance to work closely with sports teams and get to know them on a more personal level, finding out more about what makes them tick and who they are as human beings rather than simply athletes. As a sports psychologist, you will be working as a mental health professional that specializes in working with athletes to help them reach their peak performance. Playing sports can often take a toll on the mental health and wellbeing of an athlete, and sports psychologists play a major role in helping these sports professionals deal with a range of issues. For example, you might find yourself helping athletes who are anxious about returning to play after suffering an injury or working with players who are suffering with low self-esteem after a big loss.
Athletic Director
Athletic directors are responsible for managing the athletic department at a college or high school. This role involves the management of the daily department operations. If you want to get into a role as an athletic director, you will be responsible for a wide range of different tasks including setting budgets for the department, hiring, and training new employees, overseeing travel arrangements for teams and coaches, planning games, and more. Along with this, managing public relations for the athletics department is often a key part of the athletic director’s role, and they are responsible for making sure that the department and various sports teams are able to maintain a positive public image. A strong skill-set of communication, leadership, decision-making, and organizational skills will be required to succeed in this role.
Baseball Coach
Working as a baseball coach may be an ideal career for you if you enjoy teaching others and are passionate about baseball. If you have experience playing college or professional baseball and are highly knowledgeable about the game, it could be ideal for you. Like coaches in other sports, baseball coaches are responsible for supporting and motivating their players, helping them continue performing at their best, and refining their skills and abilities over time. Baseball coaches will often build strong relationships with players and get to know each member of their team on a personal basis so that they can put together tailored plans to help them meet their goals as sports players and succeed. Coaches are responsible for determining which players are selected for upcoming games, and work for teams at all levels from high school to professional Major League Baseball.
Physical Therapist
Physical therapists are often hired to work with sports players who have been injured or are in the process of recovering from an injury. These professionals are responsible for examining injured athletes and coming up with plans for rehabilitating them and helping them get back to playing their sport in a way that is safe and healthy. They will work closely with athletes to put together tailored, personal plans to help them recover and regain full use of their joints and muscles before determining whether or not they are ready to return to playing. Along with helping support the recovery of the athlete, the physical therapist is also responsible for making sure that the injury is not made worse and that no further injuries are sustained during the recovery process.
Professional Player
Last but not least, if you are passionate about playing sports, you might dream of becoming a professional player. If you have the right drive and commitment and access to professional coaching and support, getting into playing professional sports might be within your reach. Often, professional players are scouted in high school or college, so the earlier you start the better. Dedicate your time to getting better at your chosen sport, play in as many games as possible, and even get involved with coaching other players to build your skill-set and get noticed by the people in the industry who can help you realize your dreams.
If you are passionate about sports, working in the industry might be worth considering. From playing professionally to coaching, working in management, and marketing and reporting on the latest sports events, there are countless career options with something for everybody.