Past the Pitcher’s Mound

When someone says the word “sports” to you, you think about athletes, right? Can’t you pick out the jocks in your school? Even your parents can remember the most athletic kids from their high schools.

Attention is always directed toward the jocks, athletes and coaches of sports. But what do you know about the people behind the scenes? You might not have considered some other careers in the field of sports, such as announcer, newscaster, promotional product specialist, salesperson, marketer, stadium operator, talent scout or ticket operations manager. The list goes on; being an athlete is only one “pitch” in the ball game.

Degrees needed and skills wanted

The degrees needed in the sports field vary according to the job and can include anything from law to graphic design. Many jobs in the professional sports industry require bachelor’s degrees. Many of the occupations require you to have good people skills.

Say that you are interested in athlete representation. In other words, you want to be an agent. Advice on the Web site Sportscareers.com suggests that a degree in law would help you read and write contracts for the athletes you will represent. Do you want to be a member of the marketing/creative team in the professional sports industry? Consider a degree in journalism, communications or graphic design.

Sports occupations call for many different skills, but one of the most important is good communication practices. From general managers to ticket operations directors, most sports jobs involve other people, so you must be able to deal with all kinds.

Money, money, money
When you research job ideas, one of the main things you may look for is money. Sports career salaries vary greatly. As in many companies, the people in the top positions make more money. The same is true in the sports field. The degree you get and the skills that you develop will help you go far. The farther you go, the more money you might make.

Just a sample
The following are some of the sports-related jobs you can choose.

Sports psychologists work with the brain instead of the brawn. A degree in psychology—and perhaps a doctorate in the field—is needed to practice in this field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that psychologists typically earn from $22,000 a year and up.

Sports reporters cover everything from high school sports to pro sports for newspapers, magazines, radio or television stations. Sportscareers.com suggests majoring in journalism or English if you are interested in this occupation. The BLS notes that newspaper reporters earn an average salary of around $26,470 a year.

Ever wonder how sports fields get so green and perfect or why the pool is always a pristine blue? That’s the sign of a competent facilities manager. A degree in either architecture or engineering will advance you in this field. The average salary for this job is about $40,000, though the top facilities managers can make up to $70,000.

For more information about salaries and careers in professional sports, visit Sportscareers.com.

Advice from a professional
Greg Lombard is a physical therapist at Rochester General Physical Therapy in New York. A physical therapist assists athletes or regular patients who have been injured on or off the field. Therapists work with people to speed their recoveries.

Lombard’s advice? “There is plenty of opportunity out there,” he says about careers in sports. “You should go for it.”

You might not be remembered as your school’s jock, but you can be remembered for pursuing a sports career that’s just as challenging and exciting as being an athlete! 

Gloria Carmen Lara is a high school student at School of the Arts in Rochester, N.Y.

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