Sports management
Sports management is an educational discipline that equips students with essential skills such as planning, budgeting, and leadership necessary for the business side of sports and recreation. This competitive field offers various career opportunities ranging from roles in amateur, collegiate, and professional sports leagues to positions in sports marketing, communications, and facility management. Educational pathways include associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctoral degrees, with specialized programs available in areas like sports communications or sports tourism. Internships are crucial for gaining practical experience, and professional certifications can help enhance skills for those already employed in the industry. Career prospects are diverse, encompassing fields like finance, law, marketing, and medicine, where professionals can work as sports agents, athletic directors, or sports psychologists. The breadth of the sports management field allows individuals to tailor their education and career paths based on their interests and experiences in sports. Overall, sports management combines business acumen with a passion for sports, making it an appealing choice for many aspiring professionals.
Sports management
Sports management is a field of education that teaches students an array of skills—such as planning, budgeting, controlling, directing, evaluating, leading, and organizing—needed to work on the business side of sports and recreation. Many jobs in sports management exist, but the field is very competitive. Numerous colleges and universities offer various degrees in sports management. Individuals with sports management degrees typically choose a subfield of expertise such as business, education, finance, medicine, nutrition, psychology, or science. They can obtain employment with various organizations, including amateur, college, or professional sports leagues; sports marketing firms; advertising and public relations firms; sports communications and media outlets; arenas, civic centers, and stadiums; sporting goods stores; military sports programs; and more.
Education
Several types of sports management certifications and degrees exist. Individuals who pursue a degree in this field should have experience playing some type of sport and have various sports knowledge. Experience in other sports-related activities such as coaching, officiating, or volunteering with sport teams is also helpful. Because the field of sports is very large and encompasses numerous employment opportunities, students should narrow down what type of work they would like to do in sports management. Some schools even offer specialized sports management degrees in areas such as golf management, sports communications/media, or sports tourism/travel/hospitality.
Types of Programs
Depending on the institution, students can earn several types of degrees in sports management. Associate degrees are usually two-year programs that cover the basics of the field and offer instruction in subjects such as business ethics and law, coaching, management, and physical education. These degrees may even provide instruction in accounting or finance.
A bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete. These types of degrees offer a few specialties that students can choose based on their specific interests in the field. For example, students interested in the public relations aspect of sports management might focus on advertising, marketing, and communications classes. In addition, students may learn valuable skills such as how to write news releases or speeches. Students interested in helping manage athletes' health might focus on nutrition and physical education classes.
Some colleges and universities offer master's degree programs that are typically intensive one- or two-year programs that help prepare students for management and administrative roles in fields such as business, management, or medicine. Students interested in a master's degree in sports medicine might focus their studies on health issues that athletes face and learn about the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries. Graduates with a master's degree in sports medicine might seek employment with college or professional sports teams to aid with the health of players. A master's degree in sports management prepares students for a career in all levels of league play in a variety of positions, from general manager to coach or even corporate sponsorship director.
Doctorate programs exist for those who wish to further their education beyond a master's degree to obtain a PhD or EdD. These types of programs are very specific and selective and usually only offer study in a few research areas such as psychology of sports or sports medicine.
In addition, students should complete internships in areas of interest to them. Certifications for individuals already working in the field are available for those who want to enhance their skills. Professional associations such as the International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA), National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW), and North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) provide an array of services for sports management professionals. In addition to acquiring an education, those wishing to become sports management professionals should abide by the NASSM code of ethics.
Career Opportunities
Because it is so broad, numerous opportunities exist in the sports management field. While traditional sports jobs such as coaches and sports agents are common, sports-related positions can be found in numerous industries. The following are some examples of fields that provide sports management positions:
- Communications/Media: This field includes work at newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and other media outlets, and offers positions such as media relations assistant, assistant manager for sports web page/Internet site, sport video manager, and manager for sports communications.
- Facilities/Events: These jobs typically include hotel/restaurant-style work in a variety of settings, from arenas to stadiums and more. Positions include director of facility operations and entertainment, event coordinator, special events director, and special events promotion manager.
- Finance: Graduates interested in the financial aspect of sports careers can gain employment as accounting managers, athletic directors for finance, directors of corporate sales, and ticket managers.
- Law: Some positions in this field may require a law degree and license; however, it is a growing sector of sports management and includes general counsel, intellectual properties lawyer, special events contract lawyer, sports agent, and sports arbitrator/mediator.
- Marketing/Public Relations: These positions are similar to those in communications/media but typically focus on sales and promotions. Positions in this field include director of fan development, director of special events and promotion, director of sports information, director of sports media, director of sports publicity, and tournament operations manager.
- Medicine: Like law, some jobs in this field require a medical degree and license. This area is very broad and can encompass an array of positions, including nutritionist, physical therapist, psychologist, and trainer.
- Travel/Tourism: This growing field includes positions such as guest relations specialist, special events coordinator, and tournament planner.
- Sports Teams: Numerous positions in this field exist; however, many times former and retired athletes work in these positions as athletic director, coach, executive director, general manager, and scout.
Bibliography
"Fields of Study - Sport Management." Shape America, Society of Health and Physical Educators, http://www.shapeamerica.org/career/fields/sport-management.cfm. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016.
Seiter, Cecilia, and Veronica Beagle. "What Is Sport Management? Degrees, Specializations And Careers." Forbes, 19 Dec. 2023, www.forbes.com/advisor/education/science/what-is-sports-management/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
"Sports Management Degrees and Certification: What You'll Study." All Business Schools, http://www.allbusinessschools.com/business-careers/sports-management/degrees/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016.
"What Is a Sports Management Degree?" Sports Management Degree Hub, 3 Nov. 2013. http://www.sportsmanagementdegreehub.com/what-is-a-sports-management-degree/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016.