How to Get a Career in Sports Management

When you watch a sporting event on TV, you probably don’t think about all that might have gone into making it happen. But while you root for the team on the field, there’s another team that works behind the scenes to make sure that the event runs smoothly from beginning to end. From the manager of the venue to the coordinator of the event, there are of sports management professionals who oversee the business side of the game.

If you’re passionate about sports but know you won’t be tossing TDs in the big leagues anytime soon, you can still be part of the excitement with a career in sports management. Start with a sport management degree, access an internship, and immerse yourself in the industry. Once you lay a solid foundation, you can build a career in the field you love.

Do Your Homework and Research Sports Management

Before you begin your formal education in the field, do some informal research of your own. There are many different career paths to pursue within the field of sports management, from accounting and marketing, to event and facility management. What segment would interest you the most? You might also take the time to start a LinkedIn profile and connect with those already work in the field to get an idea of what your duties might be and what education and work experience it can take to land a job.

Earn a Degree in Sports Management

You love sports so you probably already know a lot about the athletes, coaches, and the history of the games. But you might not know the business side of sports. You might never have thought about a team’s budget or how corporate sponsorships are secured, but those are critical to modern sports management. If you want to learn about what it takes to manage a team, run a clubhouse, or put on a sporting event, you’ll want to earn a degree in sport management.

A degree will introduce you the world of business and the history of its evolution in sports. It will also allow you to explore different aspects of sports management so you can determine what area you’ll want to work in. With the right degree program, you can hone your business acumen as well as your leadership skills. Here’s what you can expect to learn:

• Sports Finance and Economics—You’ll learn how to balance an organizational budget and how to look for opportunities to generate revenue.
• Facility and Event Management—You’ll find out how to manage, maintain, and operate a sporting facility as well as how to plan and coordinate a sporting event.
• Sports Marketing—You’ll learn how to promote a sports team or event, including how to target certain demographics and how to maintain a public image.
• Sports Policies, Laws, and Ethics—You’ll learn about the power and politics of sports organizations along with the laws they need to follow. You will also learn the ethical issues surrounding finances and contracts that can affect any business.

With the right program, you’ll benefit from the experience and expertise of your professors. They’ll provide you with industry insights that can be invaluable to you in school and throughout your career. As you get close to graduation, they can also provide advice and guidance that can help you prepare for your job search.

Gain Experience with a Job in Sports Management

The best way to break into almost any industry is with both education and experience. The right degree program will have case studies and class projects that make you feel like you’re doing the kind of work you would in the field. But an internship actually puts you in the field. You can gain real-world experience that allows you to put the knowledge you learn in the classroom into practice. The opportunity to work at a resort or venue can show you what the world of sports management is like better than a textbook could explain it. Do a great job and there could be a job offer. And your internship experience will look great on your resume.

Immerse Yourself in the Sports Management Field

Some universities have clubs specific to a major. If there’s a sport management club on your campus, join! Even if there isn’t a formal organization, there are plenty of ways to be involved with the industry before you enter it. Connect with a collegiate team, work with the college’s sports management department, or job shadow the facilities manager or event coordinator to see how they run things on a collegiate level. This can be especially valuable if you want to work with college teams.

Outside of school, attend lectures and seminars that feature guest speakers from the field. Read industry news, subscribe to podcasts, follow blogs. You can also look for a mentor—either a faculty member or an alum—who might be able to offer some career advice while you complete your degree.

Are you ready to take the first step toward your career? At Limestone University, we offer a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management that will prepare you for an entry-level job in the field. If you really want to set yourself apart from the competition, we also offer a 4+1 program that allows you to earn a degree in sport management as well as an MBA in just five years. Click the button to learn more.

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