Athletes, coaches and match officials aren’t the only occupations supported by the sports industry. There are much more opportunities and careers in the world of sport.
Working in sports involves finding a career related to any aspect of the sports industry, including recruitment, marketing and management. From event coordinators and planners, ushers, Media professionals and announcers, marketing professionals, medical practitioners, psychologists, chefs, and even architects, several occupations have experienced double-digit employment growth in the past decade or so.
Professionals in the sporting industry may perform a wide variety of professional duties, as the roles in this field can differ. In addition to training and caring for athletes, a career in sports may involve writing about their professional accomplishments or advertising merchandise for a particular team or player.
Moreover, sports jobs have a high multiplier effect, meaning they create more jobs in other occupations and industries.
“The best thing about working in sports is the community of sports professionals who share a passion and, sometimes struggle, for this industry. It’s show business baby,” stated Nate Masseau of Peak Sports Management.
Most times you tend to find that people who work full time in sport would at one time be a full-time avid fan and currently still is. The best thing about working in sports is being able to talk with people all day about something they love and are passionate about. You are constantly creating or building new relationships to do your job and allow athletes to achieve their greatest level of success. It may not always be a gold medal or a national championship but seeing an athlete accomplish a team or personal goal can be just as satisfying.
“To be able to serve your team, coach, manager, athlete, or fan in the best way possible means so much to a lot of persons who are dedicated servants of sport. The relationships we build across our professions are undervalued and should not be taken for granted. Every single relationship is important to the success of your organisation.
As Hudl Content producer Brendon Hall explained, “It’s getting to interact every day with so many amazing coaches and athletes who love our brand and are leveraging data and video in ways that blow our minds. These people take pride in their role as guardians of the game’s future and for many of them an important fabric of their communities. There’s an infinity pool of amazing stories to tell that, if written the right way with the right details, will inspire people for generations.”
Of course, not every day is a life-changing, wow experience. There are days when the struggle is real. You may ask yourself “why am I getting myself caught in this.”
Sports management expert Marlene Dixon of Texas A&M University’s Department of Health and Kinesiology, said sports employees have a tangible, public product compared to other high-stress professions which add additional pressure to their already intense jobs. For instance, after just one bad game, fans on social media may publicly call for an official’s removal or professionals start questioning their ability to get the job done.
Dixon said the stress is also there for those with ageing parents, and single employees trying to find an outlet or free time beyond work. She consulted mid-career and late-career coaches to understand how sports employees can find a healthy balance. They responded that it is possible to “have it all,” but it requires intentional scaffolding of support systems both in work and home life.
Another challenge the sports industry faces are keeping up with the pace of technological advancements, especially when there are financial challenges. Many fans connect with their favourite teams or sports through social media, which puts pressure on organisations to constantly keep updating their social media platforms Likewise, venues must also keep up with the pace. Not having wifi can be a major turn off for fans or workers who must stay connected throughout the event. If technology wasn’t difficult enough, the sports industry is faced with the challenge of finding gameday experiences that simply cannot be experienced at home.
Despite this, a lot of times the best part of our job is seeing young women and men grow into successful professionals. Most times we are serving first-generation athletes or students and they can come to us a little timid, perhaps unaware of the opportunities available to them. As time progresses, we see the process and are part of the process of numerous lives being transformed. Working with incredible people from diverse and varied backgrounds and sport’s increasing ability to lead (positive change) and inspire beyond the game is something you can’t get enough of.