Education & Career Trends: April 20, 2023
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
- Excerpts are taken from an article published on forbes.com.
Sports management refers to the management of various business functions in sports and recreation organisations. Depending on their specific job title, sport management professionals might plan, direct, organise or budget within a sports-related organisation.
Setting a career in sports management doesn’t necessarily mean signing on with a professional athletic league. Several sports and recreational organisations employ people with sport management skills—from college teams to stadiums, sports media firms to the Paralympics.
Leadership positions in sports and recreation usually require at least a bachelor of business administration.
Sports Management Concentrations
Because sports management is a multidisciplinary field, many students pursue concentrations to deepen their expertise in a specific subtopic. If you’re inclined toward a certain aspect of the industry, consider finding a program that offers a concentration in that particular field. Below are a few examples of popular sport management concentrations.
Sports Law
Several laws impact the world of professional, amateur and recreational sports. Sports lawyers help athletes, coaches, managers and organisations navigate those laws and, when possible, avoid costly litigation.
Some of the most common areas of sports law include:
- Contract law. This area governs the contracts made between athletes, coaches and their respective teams. These contracts are most common in professional athletic leagues and involve millions of dollars. Sports lawyers draft these contracts and aid in their negotiation.
- Trademark law. Sports teams are identified by their names, logos and sometimes slogans. Those assets need to be trademarked for teams to maintain rights and control over them. In this case, sports lawyers help teams file their trademarks and enforce the terms in the event of trademark violations.
- Personal injury law. Athletes are prone to injury, both on and off the field. If an athlete files a legal claim after an injury, personal injury lawyers step in to facilitate the claims process. Furthermore, venues that host sporting events must ensure the space is safe to avoid personal injury liability.
Sports Media
Sports media refers to the broadcast and reporting of sporting events, teams and sports news. Jobs in the sports media field include print journalism, photography, broadcast reporting (TV and radio), sports information analysis and program production.
Event Management
Sports event management involves planning, coordinating, organising and leading events for sports organisations. Putting on sporting events—from marathons to minor league baseball games—requires relentless attention to detail and quick decision-making skills. Among other key responsibilities, event managers must manage budgets, negotiate with vendors and coordinate day-of logistics.
Careers in Sports Management
Athletic Director
Athletic directors liaise among schools’ athletes, coaches and academic departments. These professionals oversee the goals, budget and operations of schools’ athletic departments. They also help hire coaching staff, maintain facilities and promote athletic programs.
Facilities Director
Facilities directors are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of athletic facilities. They ensure the safety of all those playing on the field, court or another playing surface. Facilities directors should hold a postsecondary degree in sport management and be trained in CPR and first aid.
Marketing Consultant
Sports marketing consultants employ sales and marketing tactics to promote sports teams and their related organisations. They might also promote individual high-profile athletes. Marketing consultants also might work on a contract basis to supply valuable insights to clients.
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How The 80–20 Rule Can Help You Reach Your Goals
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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