Insights

Article written by Saam Momen, creator of the Sports Executive Path 

If you’re interested in working in the sports industry, there are lots of different avenues you can take. The sports industry offers a lot of variety in the availability of jobs, and depending on your interests and skills, you have a lot of different options available to you. No matter which area of the industry you’d like to work in, there are also lots of different options when it comes to education.

If you’re interested in working in the business side of the industry, sports management provides an excellent option, covering business topics such as finance, marketing and leadership but within the specific context of sports. Sports management courses offer a pathway into the industry while preparing you for success as a part of the next generation of sports leaders.

Below are some of the top reasons why people choose to study sports management and the advantages it can bring.

1. A Wide Range of Career Opportunities

One of the main reasons why people choose to study sports management is that it provides many different options for career paths after completing the course. Whether you’re interested in management, marketing, finance or founding your own sports company, the possibilities are almost endless. Sports management courses provide a varied education that covers many areas of the industry, through your course, you’ll have the opportunity to learn many different skills which will serve you well in your career.

Jobs that a sports management course can prepare you for include:

• Sports marketer
• Athletic director
• Sports club executive
• Athletic coach
• Event coordinator
• Contract negotiation manager

 
2. Gain In-Depth Insights into the Sports Industry

While some people might choose to study business management before applying for work in sports, a sports management course will give you industry-specific knowledge and skills that you won’t find in any other course. While you can still find work in the industry after completing a course that isn’t tailored towards sports, you have a much higher chance of finding a job if you complete a course that gives greater insights into the sports industry. When people choose to study sports management over business management or something similar, it’s because they know that working in the sports industry is their dream and they want to be able to learn the theory of the course in the context of sports.

By studying sports management, you’ll get to cover the following subjects plus much more:

• Consumer behaviour and sports
• The impact of sports on society
• Ethical issues in modern sports
• Strategic management and how it relates to sports organisations
• The link between sports and economics
• Sports sponsorships and its effects

3. Turn a Passion into a Career

Lots of people have a passion for sport, and that can make finding a job in the industry quite challenging. There are a lot of people interested in working in sports and only a limited number of available positions. Just because it’s challenging it doesn’t mean it’s impossible, however. If you want the best chance of turning your passion into a career, you’ll need the right education. Simply loving sports and being knowledgeable about the industry isn’t enough, you’ll also need to gain real-world skills that are applicable in the business of sports. With a sports management course, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes at your favourite sports organisations and will have a chance to work in one of the most exciting industries.

Sports management courses are ideal for the following types of people:

• Professional athletes who want to continue to work in sports after they retire
• People who are passionate about sports but prefer to work behind the scenes
• Those who are interested in learning more about how the sports industry works
• Anyone who wants to learn more about management and business practices within the context of sports

4. The Sports Industry is Growing

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down many industries in 2020, the sports industry is expected to bounce back soon enough and will continue to be one of the fastest-growing job sectors as demand for sports grows around the world, and new markets emerge as consumers of sports. This opens up a lot of possibilities for those who are educated in sports management, providing the potential for career growth and job opportunities all over the world. If you’re serious about working in the sports industries, an education in sports management is one of the best ways to get involved.

Here are some facts about the growth of the global sports industry:

• The industry is worth an estimated $500 billion
• Since 2014, it’s sustained an average growth rate of 4.3%
• The industry is comprised of both participation and spectator sports
• Participation sports represent just over half of the market, but spectator sports are growing at a faster rate
• North America accounts for around 30% of the global market with regions such as Western Europe, Asia Pacific and others following closely behind
• Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are the two fastest-growing markets with annual growth rates of around 95 and 6% respectively.

5. Learn Skills That Will be Transferable Across Industries

Even if you don’t end up working in the sports industry, the skill and knowledge that you learn from your sports management course will also be applicable across many other industries. If you end up changing your mind about the kind of industry you’d like to work in, a sports management degree can still provide you with plenty of opportunities to work in management, marketing, finance or other areas. While a lot of those that study sports management end up working in sports, lots of others decide to change career path and try out a different industry instead. The sports management course specialises in sports, but that doesn’t mean your options are limited in terms of your career.

Skills you’ll learn through sports management include:

• Strategic planning and management
• Leadership and the principles of management
• How to create a marketing plan
• Creating and refining a sports development program
• Risk management and creating financial reports
• Using technology to improve processes

One of the ways you can get more familiarised with the topic is by signing up to the course on Sports Management by The Sports Executive Path (TSEP).

CLICK HERE to enroll with a discounted price. #ad

TSEP is an e-learning platform created by Saam Momen producing courses to help anyone interested in sports management or alternatively entering the sports industry.