Have you ever considered a career in sports? Maybe you considered being a baseball or football player as a child – everyone does at some point – but what about adjusting your goals? If you’re looking to get into the sports industry in a behind-the-scenes role, perhaps you should consider a career in sports management. Degree programs are offered through business or physical education programs and touch on many aspects of managing a team or organization, including finance, marketing, and legal matters.

A sports management degree – not a prerequisite for sports-related positions, but it certainly helps – covers disciplines in health and management, as someone in a managerial position may be involved in business, health, or entertainment aspects behind the scenes for athletic organization or team. Anyone with this background may be involved in planning and managing the finances for a team or organization, marketing, directing athletics, and helping with legal matters, such as negotiating and understanding contracts. Someone with a sports management degree may also be involved in public relations, facilities management, fundraising, sales, or broadcasting for any sports team or organization.

Translating a degree into the one of many sports management jobs takes a significant amount of networking and building up experience. Completing an internship before graduation is recommended not only for the skills learned but also to make connections in the industry. Sports management jobs are a disparate group, with possible career paths being a sports agent, vice president or manager of a sports organization, operations manager, TV rights professional, merchandising or licensing professional, or a marketing or events campaign planner. The salary for these types of positions ranges from $60,000 to $115,000.

When planning for a career in sports management, be prepared for irregular hours and a significant amount of traveling. Also, the market is limited. If you’re planning for a degree in this area, search out schools that are already in a large sports market, as the internship and career opportunities will be greater and allow you to interact with more industry professionals.

Many sports management jobs can be found through ManagementJobs.net. Many mid- and advanced-career opportunities in sports are listed in our comprehensive directory of jobs. Find a position that matches your skills and experience, and apply today to take the next step up in your career.

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