sports management careers Archives

Careers in Sports Management with a Degree or Certificate

November 12, 2021 by Robin Jennings

The global sports market is worth an estimated $388.3 billion. That number is expected to grow to $599.9 billion in just four years. With the market expanding at the rate it is, more people are pursuing a degree in sports management than ever before. But, what can you do with a sports management degree or certificate?

There are presently over 400 sports management programs at the undergraduate and graduate level in the United States. More students seek cost-effective and flexible options and turn to certificate programs like Yellowbrick’s Fundamentals of Global Sports Management to further their education. There’s no shortage of opportunities for those holding a certificate, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree in sports management. These careers are just a few examples of where you can go as a sports management professional.

Athletic Trainer

Athletic Trainers work with athletes to diagnose muscle and bone injuries and provide first aid. In addition, they work alongside coaches, athletic directors, physical therapists, and physicians to implement treatment plans for injured athletes and develop injury prevention programs.

Helpful Traits:

If you’re decisive and a natural leader capable of holding yourself and others accountable, a career as an Athletic Trainer may be right for you.

Average Salary:

Athletic Trainers average an annual salary of $50,428 nationally.

Coach

Coaches assist in scouting prospective athletes and recruiting them to join their organizations. They provide instructional feedback to in order to help players improve their skill levels. In addition, coaches devise game strategies intended to improve the team’s chances of winning. Coaches work with professional athletics and sports organizations, as well as schools and universities.

Helpful Traits: To be a successful coach, communication is key. So you should be able to express ideas clearly and have good listening skills.

Average Salary: Coaches at the high school level average an annual salary of $43,737 nationally.

Fitness Manager

Fitness Managers supervise the administrative and organizational activities of fitness clubs. They hire and train staff, including personal trainers, and oversee the development of fitness programs. Fitness Managers are also responsible for client relations, budget management, equipment maintenance, and ensuring health and safety regulations are followed.

Helpful Traits: Interpersonal and organizational skills are necessary qualities for a Fitness Manager.

Average Salary: Fitness Managers average an annual salary of $39,431 nationally.

Sports Social Media Coordinator

Social Media Coordinators work on behalf of teams and organizations to create and execute the social strategy. They also manage the team’s presence across all social media platforms by providing original content and engaging with followers. Social Media Coordinators may also manage social calendars and analyze content performance to assist in planning.

Helpful Traits: Sports Social Media Coordinators should be tech-savvy to navigate different social platforms. They should also be creative and can make engaging content.

Average Salary: Sports Social Media Coordinators average an annual salary of $53,957 nationally.

Sports Operations Manager

Sports Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day business side and operations of a league, franchise, or university athletic program. They manage budget and monitor costs, hiring and training staff, arrangements for team travel, and developing policy and procedure guidelines.

Helpful Traits: It’s common for Sports Operations Managers to be analytical thinkers with a solid work ethic.

Average Salary: Sports Operations Managers average an annual salary of $56,478 nationally.

Sports Promoter

A Sports Promoter is essential to the event planning process. They work with event coordinators to plan and market sporting events. In addition, they are responsible for creating event budgets, projecting attendance and revenue, scouting and selecting venues, and selling sponsorships. They also provide support for on-site logistics during set-up and breakdown.

Helpful Traits: Sports Promoters are self-starters, but can be adaptable and work as part of a team when necessary.

Average Salary: Sports Promoters average an annual salary of $39,591 nationally.

Sports Psychologist

A Sports Psychologist is a mental health professional hired by a team or league to counsel athletes to achieve their peak performance level. In addition, they develop strategies that help athletes mentally cope with setbacks or injuries.

They also advise athletes through stressors that aren’t associated with their play. When appropriate, Sports Psychologists facilitate workshops and team-building group activities. They also provide counseling for coaching and other team personnel.

Sports Psychologist, What can you do with a sports management degree — Psychology session.

Helpful Traits: Sports Psychologists handle sensitive issues, so it’s essential to be empathetic and trustworthy.

Average Salary: Sports Psychologists average an annual salary of $73,501 nationally.

Ticket Account Representative

Account Representatives are salespeople. They promote games and events to sell tickets to individuals, groups, and corporate buyers. They also provide customer service support for season-ticket holders and pursue leads to generate new customers. Account Representatives have quotas set by sales or marketing executives.

Helpful Traits: If you’re a high-energy multitasker and persuasive enough to close deals, consider becoming a Ticket Account Representative.

Average Salary: Ticket Account Representatives average an annual salary of $44,722 nationally.

Are you looking for your next steps in pursuing a job in sports management? Be sure to check out Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Sports Management Career Guide.

Your Ultimate Career Guide Into The Sports Industry

December 17, 2021 by Robin Jennings

The sports industry is one of the most lucrative entertainment markets globally, reaching a value of nearly $388.3 billion in 2020. That number is projected to hit $599.9 billion by 2025 and $826 billion by 2030. With a market value that’s expected to double over the next decade, the amount of available jobs in sports will be on the rise. Sports management — the business area related to sports — encompasses team management, sports marketing and publicity, sports economics and finance, information science, facility management, and event management. What types of jobs are available in these fields, and where do you start?

We have created this comprehensive guide to help you determine and achieve your sports industry career goals. Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Sports Career Guide is your source to discover sports careers and learn entry points into the sports industry. In this guide, you can begin to explore the jobs that drive the market, then search for your perfect career by area of interest, skills, companies, or industry experts.

Learn about your skills and interests, articulate them confidently to identify options within the sports industry. Then, implement a successful strategy to attain your desired career outcomes.

In this guide, you’ll find the following information:

Overview of the Sports Industry
Future of the Sports Market
Sports Career Library
Career Planning Strategy to get into the Sports Industry

You’ll also find simple exercises that help you:

form a career planning strategy to get into the sports industry
find your passion in sports and identify an area of interest to pursue
learn the sports industry through top agencies and its key players
identify your skills and match them to a sports area of interest

Download this guide to start planning your sports industry career. Whether you’re a novice, a student, or a professional, you can further your career path by downloading this guide that will help you begin to understand the sports industry opportunities available, as well as the skills and qualifications you need to succeed.

8 Sports Management Jobs If You’re Just Getting Started

June 15, 2022 by Robin Jennings

Sports management is one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States. Jobs in the industry, specifically as a sports management professional, are projected to increase by 22% by 2030. Working in the sports industry represents a high school dream for many, and with the market growing as quickly as it is, here are a few jobs in sports management that can help turn those dreams into reality.

Event Coordinator

The event staff works behind the scenes to ensure game days and sporting events run smoothly. Event coordinators help keep the staff organized by managing expense reports and travel itineraries, preparing materials for meetings, and maintaining event calendars. In addition, they’re the point person for correspondence between other departments such as facilities, production, and any outside vendors. They also work with security to supervise personnel access to event venues.

Helpful Skill:

This role demands an expert in multitasking. You’ll likely be assisting on several events that are in different stages of planning.

Facility Assistant/Coordinator

The facilities team manages the day-to-day operations of an arena or stadium. A Facility Coordinator provides administrative support for managers and directors. They typically handle scheduling, processing work order requests, and keeping maintenance records. Coordinators may also work with event staff to set up and break down technical equipment for events.

Helpful Skill:

Some tasks will require you to be hands-on, so you can’t be afraid to get them dirty as a facility coordinator.

Guest Relations Associate

Also referred to as a Box Office Associate, this customer service-oriented role works on behalf of a venue or an amateur or professional sports organization. They ensure that event attendees have an enjoyable experience by handling inquiries and troubleshooting ticket and seating issues.

Helpful Skill:

As the first point of contact with the public, guest relations associates have to possess the ability to interact with different personalities in a friendly manner. The more outgoing you are, the better.

Scout Assistant

A scout works for a professional sports agency, a sports team, or on the collegiate level. They’re talent evaluators tasked with finding athletes and tracking their development. Their end goal is to sign them to their agency or offer them a roster spot on their team. Scouts don’t just analyze raw talent; they also gauge athletes’ personalities and backgrounds to ensure they’re a good fit or provide risk assessment.

Helpful Skill:

Former players and coaches are being hired more frequently in scouting departments. If you have a background as an athlete at any level, you may have a leg up on the competition.

Social Media Coordinator

Social media management is a subsection of marketing and is a great way to engage with fans and the public directly. Coordinators monitor social channels, write copy, manage content calendars, and report performance indicators. They work with agencies, sports teams, or venues.

Helpful Skill:

If you’re usually the first person in your friend group to download a new social app, this position may be a fit for you. Being able to anticipate trends and having a grasp on new technology will set you apart.

Sports Marketing Assistant

Sports marketing consists of three sections: advertising, event promotion, and increasing general awareness of the sport or team. An assistant helps a marketing team execute its strategy. For someone just entering the field, responsibilities can include writing case studies and executive summaries, maintaining contact lists, and general administrative duties like answering phone calls and emails. In some instances, an assistant is assigned to a specific marketing manager or director.

Helpful Skill:

The responsibilities of a marketing assistant can change daily, so you’ll need to be adaptable and willing to take on different roles.

Sportswriter

Sports broadcasting is one of the most in-demand careers in the industry. An early entry point into a broadcasting career is as a sportswriter. Sportswriters report on industry news, interview athletes, and recap games for blogs, newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. They may cover all sports or specialize in one, and some work locally and provide coverage for multiple sports in a specified region.

Helpful Skill:

A good memory is an asset every sportswriter should have. Being able to recall specific game moments in detail will make your writing more interesting.

Video Coordinator

Practicing is an integral part of getting better as an individual athlete and as a team. In the digital era, coaches utilize video sessions to provide visual aid and feedback to their teams. Video Coordinators work with team management to capture footage of practices and games for training purposes. They are responsible for operating video equipment and using editing software to organize clips and breakdowns of team performance that assist coaches in analyzing team performance and adjusting future strategies.

Helpful Skill:

Do you love to watch sports? You should if you want to be a video coordinator. This role requires watching hours of game tape — sometimes rewatching the same game multiple times to find the footage coaches need.

If you’re interested in pursuing one of these Sports Management jobs and would like to scout careers and practical experiences in the industry, check out Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Sports Career Guide.