Athletics and Sport

Area

Employer

Information/Strategies

Sub-Area:

For in-depth information see What Can I Do With This Major, Sport Management
• Administration of Amateur Athletics
  • Olympic
  • Intercollegiate
  • High School
  • Youth
• Administration of Professional Teams and Leagues
  • Player Personnel
  • Business Operations
• Public Relations
• Sales
• Marketing and Promotions
• Ticketing and Seat Management
• Facilities Management
• Event Coordination
• Program Coordination
• Fund Raising
• Sponsorship Sales
• Sport Information
• Athlete Representation

Employers:

• Professional teams and leagues, e.g. NFL, MLB
• Professional athletes
• Professional player associations and unions
• Sport associations, e.g. PGA Tour
• Conference offices, e.g. SEC, ACC
• Governing bodies
• Colleges and universities
• Arenas
• Auditoriums
• Stadiums
• Golf courses
• Tracks
• High schools
• Youth sport programs
• Sport related franchises
• Training centers
• Sport camps
• Health and fitness clubs
• Recreational facilities
• Local sport and tourism corporations
• Sport marketing firms
• Sport management firms

Strategies & Information:

• Major in sport management or sport administration. Earn a master's degree for increased opportunities.
• Develop outstanding communication skills, written and oral.
• Take courses in marketing, public relations, and advertising. Hone public speaking skills.
• For player representation, pursue a degree in law to aid in negotiating contracts and financial planning.
• Obtain accounting or business skills and experience. Develop a background in sales.
• Volunteer to coordinate athletic programs and events such as marathons, golf tournaments, or special olympics for campus organizations or local non-profit groups.
• Get involved with campus sport teams, intramurals, or recreational programs.
• Build a network of contacts with sport administrators, student athletes, and merchandise representatives.
• Join sport-oriented associations and organizations.
• Obtain an internship or part-time job with a team, an athletic organization, or a sport facility.
• Be willing to work in any capacity with minor league or local teams as a way to enter the field and gain experience.

Sub-Area:

• Product Development
• Product Distribution
• Sales and Marketing
• Brand/Product Representation
• Store Management
• Internet Sales

Employers:

• Sport equipment and supply industry, e.g. Wilson, Spalding, Adidas
• Exercise equipment manufacturers
• Sport and recreation retailers
• Online sport retailers
• Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Association

Strategies & Information:

• Work in retail stores that sell sport or recreational merchandise or in campus recreation facilities that rent equipment to students.
• Gain sales experience through part-time or summer jobs and internships.
• Volunteer as a team equipment manager.
• Make contact with college equipment or uniform representatives.
• Develop strong communication skills and learn how to build interpersonal relationships.

Sub-Area:

• Journalism
• Broadcasting
• Photojournalism
• Sport Information
• Advertising Sales

Employers:

• Newspapers
• Television stations
• Radio stations
• Magazines
• Special interest sport publications
• Sport-related internet sites

Strategies & Information:

• Major in journalism, broadcasting, electronic media, photography, or English.
• Supplement program with courses in sport management or physical education.
• Obtain an internship or part-time job with local or university newspaper or radio/television station.
• Publish, as much as possible, in college and local newspapers.
• Create a portfolio of published work, both articles and photographs, or an online portfolio highlighting digital media skills.
• Develop excellent public speaking and writing skills and a solid command of sports.

Sub-Area:

For in-depth information, see What Can I Do With This Major, Exercise Science
• Research
• Teaching
• Assessment and Evaluation
• Program Development
• Athletic Training
• Personal Training
• Rehabilitation
• Strength and Conditioning
• Health Club Management
• Group Fitness Instruction
• Sport Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Employers:

• Colleges and universities
• Public and private schools
• Sport medicine centers
• Hospitals and rehabilitation clinics
• Health clubs and fitness centers
• Professional teams
• Corporate health centers
• Professional fitness organizations such as:
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association
• Olympic training centers
• Competitive youth training centers
• Nutritional supplement manufacturers

Strategies & Information:

• Major in exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology, or sport medicine.
• Supplement curriculum with nutrition and hard science courses.
• Consider professional or graduate school in physical therapy, athletic training, or medicine.
• Obtain necessary certification such as Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer, or National Athletic Trainer Certification.
  • Other certifications can be granted by the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
• Develop computer skills and familiarity with technology used in the field.
• Work in a physical therapy clinic, health club, or gym to gain experience and make contacts.
• Volunteer to work with college or high school sport teams or to run exercise programs for local, non-profit organizations.
• Consider working with manufacturers of exercise equipment or nutritional supplements to learn more about the field and to make contacts.
• Develop excellent interpersonal skills for working with clients, coaches, and team physicians.
• Maintain excellent personal fitness and athletic proficiency.

Sub-Area:

• Teaching
• Research
• Adaptive Physical Education
• Recreational Sport Administration

Employers:

• Public and private schools, K-12
• Colleges and universities

Strategies & Information:

• Obtain a degree in education, physical education, or other sport related field in addition to appropriate state teacher licensure. Earn dual certification for increased job opportunities.
• Become familiar with a variety of physical, cognitive, and affective disabilities if interested in an adaptive physical education career. Supplement coursework with special education classes.
• Secure a part-time position with a youth recreation center, college athletic facility, or intramural athletic administration department.
• Develop competitive and instructive proficiency in a wide array of sports.
• Obtain a graduate degree to teach at the college level or to advance into administrative positions. Secure a graduate assistantship teaching physical education courses.

Sub-Area:

• Professional
• College
• High School
• Private
• Youth Sport

Employers:

• Professional sport teams
• Colleges and universities
• High schools and middle schools
• Recreational organizations or leagues, e.g. YMCA
• Country clubs
• Racket clubs
• Gyms
• Tracks
• Ice rinks
• Golf and tennis resorts
• City parks and recreation departments
• Youth sport organizations, e.g. Little League Baseball
• Sport related franchises
• Sport camps

Strategies & Information:

• Major in exercise science, sport management, or physical education, although coaches can hold nearly any academic background.
• Obtain teacher licensure in an academic subject for high school or middle school coaching positions.
• Gain extensive, advanced playing experience.
• Research coaching certifications in various sports.
• Develop additional knowledge in areas of strength training, fitness, nutrition, and conditioning.
• Learn about and practice motivational techniques.
• Become familiar with legal and regulatory issues related to coaching, e.g. NCAA regulations.
• Volunteer to coach neighborhood, church, and community teams.
• Attend practices of teams at various levels to observe coaches' techniques.
• Serve as a referee or umpire.
• Seek a graduate assistant position in athletic administration, instruction, or coaching.
• Obtain an assistant and then head coaching position at the university level to increase possibility of progressing to the professional level.

Sub-Area:

• Refereeing
• Umpiring
• Line Judging

Employers:

• Professional sport leagues
• College and university athletic associations
• Amateur athletic associations, e.g. United States Tennis Association
• High school athletic associations
• Recreational leagues

Strategies & Information:

• Volunteer to umpire youth or Little League games.
• Work as a referee for campus intramurals.
• Be prepared to maintain full-time employment in addition to refereeing while you get started. It takes time to build a career in refereeing.
• Join sport associations and organizations to stay current on developments in the field and to make contacts. Attend classes, seminars, camps, and workshops sponsored by these organizations.
• Obtain certification to officiate in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) games.
• Attend an umpire training school or camp for professional opportunities.
• Obtain the required ten years of collegiate football refereeing experience before applying to The National Football League (NFL).
• Earn the Professional Football Referees Association licensure or other applicable credential.

Sub-Area:

• Teaching
• Research
• Consultation
• Performance Enhancement

Employers:

• Colleges and universities
• Olympic training centers
• Competitive youth sport centers
• Recreation organizations and leagues
• Professional sport teams
• Professional and competitive athletes
• Hospitals

Strategies & Information:

• Major in psychology, physical education, exercise science, or other physical activity related field.
• Obtain a doctoral degree in sport psychology, sport sociology, or clinical/counseling psychology and complete postdoctoral training if you desire to work with professional sport teams or athletes.
• Develop good relationships with coaches and other athletic department personnel. Express a willingness to learn from coaches and athletes.
• Gain experience in a variety of different sports.
• Assist faculty with research.
• Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
• Consider coaching youth teams.
• Develop social perceptiveness and active listening skills to use when working with athletes.
• Join professional associations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 (Sport and Exercise Psychology) or the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP).

Sub-Area:

• Teaching
• Research
• Health Promotion
• Primary Care
• Inpatient Medical
• Specialized Health Care

Employers:

• Colleges and universities
• Hospitals
• Health clubs and fitness centers
• Olympic training centers
• Rehabilitation clinics
• Public health agencies

Strategies & Information:

• Major in one of the social sciences and supplement coursework with hard science classes.
• Acquire training in the areas of research, grant-writing, and statistics.
• Volunteer in a hospital or fitness center.
• Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
• Learn to work well in a team environment.
• Earn a graduate degree in clinical, counseling, social, or experimental psychology for health psychology opportunities.
• Earn a graduate degree in sport psychology, with an exercise emphasis, for a career in exercise psychology.
• Pursue a postdoctoral internship or fellowship for advanced career opportunities.