You don’t have to hang up your soccer cleats or trade in your tennis racket when your school days are over. By choosing a career in a sports-related field, you can stay in the game indefinitely.
People who love athletics can work in areas as diverse as medicine, management, marketing, manufacturing and many other areas.
There are more than six million jobs in sports-related careers, according to Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women’s Sports Foundation. While many of these jobs take special education and training, entry-level positions exist for young men and women willing to work their ways up.
Careers in sports take many forms. While many young athletes dream of making it to the professional ranks, the reality is that very few make it that far. In other sports-related careers, the news is more encouraging. From educators to architects, facilities managers to fitness instructors, physical therapists to professional athletes, there are positions to fill.
SPORTS JOURNALIST
Sports journalists report on the news of the sports world to the public. A four-year degree in journalism and/or equivalent writing experience
is recommended. Job opportunities exist in newspapers and magazines, radio and television. Most beginning journalists begin as interns on college newspapers, radio or television stations or as general reporters on small-town news-papers. Curiosity, writing and interviewing skills, as well as the ability to work within deadlines, are characteristics of successful journalists.
COLLEGE COACH
College and university coaches are responsible for getting athletic teams ready to play in competitions. In smaller colleges, they may coach several sports. In larger institutions, they are mainly responsible for just one team. Duties include recruiting players, developing game strategies and teaching skills. Most college coaching positions require a minimum of four years of college. A typical career path might begin as an athlete, followed by becoming an assistant coach at a high school or college.
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
An exercise physiologist studies how the stress of exercise affects the body. The most common areas in which exercise physio-logists work are prevention—teaching healthy lifestyle habits—and rehabilitation. They may manage a wellness center, teach, or conduct research. Most jobs require a minimum of a master’s degree with an expertise in exercise physiology.
SPORTS AGENT
A sports agent acts as a professional athlete’s representative in negotiating contracts, salaries, endorsements and other business arrangements. Education includes a four-year college degree in business or a related major, often followed by a law degree. Negotiating skills, sales ability and ability to work under stressful conditions are all traits of the successful sports agent.
SPORTS OFFICIAL
A sports official is the field-of-play arbitrator of rules at an athletic event. The ability to make instantaneous decisions, resolve conflicts and deal with stress, as well as have a fitness level to keep up with the game, are keys to success in this field.
Men and women are needed to officiate in every sport and at every level from youth to professional leagues. Most people start by studying the rules of the sport and attending clinics, followed by officiating at youth and recreational levels. From there, dedicated officials can advance into high school and college sports. Officiating at the professional level is like playing in the pros: Only a very few of the finest, most ambitious make it.
According to Becky Heidesch, CEO of the Women’s Sports Services, the areas with the most opportunities during the next five years are in new business development, sports apparel, new media (Internet), coaching and athletic administration and officiating.
HERE ARE SOME MORE TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED WITH A SPORTS CAREER:
Assess your skills and determine how to translate them into a career in sports.
Set goals. Think about what interests you and what you have to offer.
Seek advice from guidance counselors, and do career research to create an educational program to fit your needs.
Follow the educational or training plan you’ve developed.
Get experience. Internships, work-study, part-time and summer jobs and volunteering can help you prepare for a career and allow employers to assess your talents.
Network. Join professional organizations, attend conferences, volunteer for leadership positions.
While it’s not enough just to love a particular sport or sports in general, your passion can help you chose a career that combines business and pleasure.
Penny Hastings is co-author of How To Win A Sports Scholarship and author of Sports For Her, A Reference Guide for Teenage Girls.
