According to Forbes, the sports market in North America is expected to be worth more than $73.5 billion by 2019. While that number pales in comparison to the global tech market – at $3 trillion – or the U.S. real estate market – at $30 trillion – sports is growing at a noteworthy clip.
To those interested in sports entertainment, this isn’t much of a surprise. For years, sports teams and athletics enterprises have taken in massive profits thanks to rabid fans and active consumers. You might already own memorabilia from your favorite teams and athletes – but there is another way for you to get involved in this engaging and growing market: make it your career.
Just as growth in the health care sector often encourages more people to become doctors, nurses and medical technicians, the ongoing growth in sports should drive you toward a career in an industry you’ve always been passionate about. Here are a few careers in sports that don’t require top running speeds or impeccable hand-eye coordination:
Sports Reporter
Sports reporters cover sports events – it’s that simple. It isn’t important what media you use to comment on sports, nor does it matter what events you prefer to discuss; sports reporters might write for major newspapers or social media, they might be featured on television or host a radio show. This job is solely focused on spreading the news of and to the sports world. According to Payscale, the average salary for this career hovers around $35,000, but reporters with larger followings can earn much more.
The beauty of journalism in the 21st century is that anyone can do it. All you need is a blog, a little marketing know-how and a lot of passion for your topic of choice. Once your blog gains enough attention, you might begin winning bylines in your favorite sports publications or appearances on your favorites sports shows.
Sports Manager
Also called general managers, sports managers handle the business side of sports. While coaches and athletes work to improve their game, sports managers are stationed behind desks and beneath mounds of paperwork, tasked with negotiating contracts, overseeing media relations, hiring staff, developing budgets and other administrative duties. The reported average salary for sports managers is $55,000, but that includes management of non-professional and minor league athletes and teams. As contrast, the New York Yankees’ general manager boasts an annual salary of $3 million, plus bonuses.
If you are wondering how to work in sports management, the process is simple: earn a degree. Degrees in sports management train you in administration skills appropriate for high-level athletics, and programs also typically connect students with current professionals in the field. From there, you should find entry-level management positions on sports teams and work your way to the coveted general manager position, just as you would climb the traditional corporate ladder.
Sports Psychologist
While psychology in general aims to study how the human mind works, sports psychology targets the mind of the athlete and methods to optimize mental and physical performance, especially during the game. Most sports require a balance of mind and body; overthinking the game can be as disastrous as weakness or injury. Thus, sports psychologists aim to address any mental, emotional or behavioral issues that could affect an athlete’s ability to perform.
Unlike other careers on this list, sports psychology is not easy to break into. First, you need a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in psychology, ideally with a focus in sports psychology. Many psychologists eventually pursue doctorates in the field, as well. It is also important to determine what level of athletics you hope to serve; student athletes have much different mental and emotional needs than professional athletes. You will also need to complete internships to earn licensure, and then you should find employment with the team or organization of your choice.
Sports Event Coordinator
The Super Bowl doesn’t occur magically every first Sunday in February. The Olympics don’t travel from city to city without extensive planning and coordination. Sports event coordinators work with teams and service providers to ensure that an event moves smoothly. Typically, event coordinators are responsible for arranging transportation of important members, especially athletes and reporters; organizing the schedule to prevent delays; providing necessary equipment, especially audio/visual tools; and more.
Unlike other forms of event planning, which hardly require more than experience and inherent talents in organization, sports event coordinators should have a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management as well as extensive experience in the sports industry. The demand for trained sports event planners is growing, so it is a good time to prepare for this career.
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