Sports Jobs

Considering a Job in Sports?

Sports job choices are numerous. If you enjoy watching or participating in sports, you may want to consider a career within the sports industry. Once you've determined that you want to work in the exciting business of sports, your next step is to consider which sports job option appeals to you the most. Finally, you will consider the sports job opportunities that pertain to your desired position and what (if any) formal education, training, and experience is required. From here, you begin to work toward your goal of achieving your sports job.

Options:
In addition to a career as a professional athlete-which generally takes a lifetime of training and conditioning, not to mention natural ability and talent-there are many other ways to be a part of the sports industry.

Sports jobs include careers in:
* Sports Administration
* Sports Management
* Sports Marketing
* Coaching
* Physical Education
* Sports Nutrition
* Sports Medicine
* Sports Psychology
* Sports Broadcasting
* Sports Information, Research and Statistics

There are other categories and sub-categories, but these are a few of the more common sports jobs available.

Sports as a Business:
It is important to understand that, first and foremost, sports are a business. Like most businesses, sports have a product (a team or athlete) and/or provide a service (entertainment) for the purpose of generating a profit.

Sports jobs such as sports management, marketing, and administration serve the same purpose as they would in any organization. They also require the same skills, knowledge, talent, and training required for success in these general aspects of business; this usually includes a college degree.

In addition to general management and business skills, a specialized understanding of the sports industry and familiarity with sports is also necessary to be effective and perform well in these particular sports jobs.

Coaching:
Sports jobs in coaching are highly desired, and the competition for these sports job vacancies is fierce-particularly in regard to professional sports. This is because coaching is one of the most demanding and rewarding sports job opportunities available. Many successful coaches have some experience as an athlete, but some may not.

Coaching requires much more than a considerable knowledge of a particular sport. It requires exceptional leadership skills, including the ability to communicate effectively, the ability to recognize and successfully interact with individuals of diverse backgrounds and various personality types, the ability to motivate and inspire, and the ability to practice and instill discipline. A good coach is always willing to learn from others and sets a good example for the athlete(s) that he or she coaches.

Physical Education:
Phys. Ed. is a sports job that requires a degree in education. A full-time position as a K through 12 teacher, along with an understanding of how to guide children in physical activity, promote physical activity as a life-long component of a healthy lifestyle, and instill the values of sportsmanship, is necessary to effectively obtain and perform this sports job.

Sports Medicine:
The field of sports medicine includes sports jobs such as, certified athletic trainer, sports nutritionists, physical therapists, team physicians, orthopedic surgeons, counselors and psychologists, and chiropractors. These sports jobs require varying degrees of training and education from certification to PhD's in medicine. Sports job openings in sports medicine are plentiful, and most pay well.

Broadcasting, Journalism, Research, and Statistics:
As with any business or recreational activity that generates public interest, it is necessary to satisfy the curiosity of the people and keep them informed of news and events. Sports jobs such as radio and television broadcasting (commentators and newscasters), sports writers, researchers, and statisticians fulfill this need. In most cases a college degree is necessary to get your foot in the door, but there are also other factors that determine success in these sports jobs.