Sports Management – Explained

Health and fitness go hand in hand. Sports Management is an important field to promote the wellness of entire nations. Although there has been more focus on sports by the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands, sports as an industry is relevant to everyone. If you are passionate about bringing sports and fitness to the masses, then perhaps you should consider a career in Sports Management. Continue reading and peruse our other posts on this field for more information.

What is Sports Management?

Sports Management is a field concerned with applying business techniques such as marketing and finance to the world of sports.

Careers in Sports Management

It is easy to think only of sports coaches when considering the field of Sports Management, however, there are many other careers that you can choose from. Here are a few below:

• Sports manager – responsible for handling the business matters of athletes and sports teams, at both the collegiate and professional levels. A sports manager may be called upon to manage relations with the media and organise promotional events.
• Athletic director – administrators who supervise and oversee athletic programs at schools or colleges and are responsible for budgeting, promotion, and scheduling for sports teams. They act as  athletic managers, organising transportation, supervising coaches, and guiding sports teams to success indirectly and rarely work directly with athletes.
• Sports information director – document and publicise the accomplishments of athletes and teams for the school or league they represent. They typically work as a liaison between the school or league and the local or national media.
• Sports facilities manager – also known as stadium or arena managers they are responsible for the day-to-day operations involved in running a sports facility. They are involved in sports facility planning including the buying, selling, or leasing of facilities; facility redesign and construction; and the supervision of sports facilities, including the structures, grounds and the custodial crews.
• Special events coordinator – coordinate competition events of different scales by planning, organising and leading as well as sourcing the necessary employees, equipment and facilities.
• Sports marketing consultant – leverage various sports and related activities to sell products, services and experiences for a specific brand or team. They project a team/brand as a unique provider of wholesome sports experiences to enthusiasts who are keen on a particular form of sports.
• Sports agent – representing the interest of athletes, particularly in contract negotiations. They also handle sponsorships, public relations, and financial planning on behalf of their athlete clients. 
• Sports development officer – help schools and communities get more actively involved in sport by organising projects and initiatives. They are responsible for distributing information and organising sport-related projects, classes, programmes, coaching, club development and training to ensure everybody has the chance to take part in sport.
• Player/Athletic recruiter – act as a middleman to link athletic talent with relevant opportunities. This could be done across the region or internationally.
• Sports administrator – responsible for carrying out administrative tasks across a wide range of functions within sports organisations. For instance, you could be focusing your efforts on marketing, fundraising, procurement, supply chain management or general administration tasks.
• Physical education (PE) teacher – responsible for the education of primary and secondary school students in physical activity and psycho-motor learning. PE has become more than just organised play as curricula have been steered towards the goal of overall wellness and teachers now incorporate health and nutrition topics into their classes.

There are also some connected careers that would benefit from knowledge in Sports Management such as Sports psychologist, Sport lawyer, and Public relations manager.

Job Requirements

In terms of academic requirements for this field, there are multiple routes that you may take but it ultimately depends on your desired career. It is possible to pursue a degree in Sports Management at either bachelor’s or master’s level and combine it with another related or compatible discipline based on your career choice.

Using the list above, besides Sports management, a degree in accounting, marketing, business administration or public relations can be useful for Sports managers, Sports event coordinators and Sports marketing consultants.

To pursue a career as a sports information director, a degree in journalism, communications or another related discipline would be necessary. A degree in Sports administration or Sports facility management is a common requirement for the role of the Sports facilities manager.

A law degree would be very beneficial to Sports agents either on its own or as a supplemental postgraduate degree to a bachelor’s degree in Sports management. Studying Sports development, sports management or sports science could satisfy the requirements for a career as a sports development officer.

Degrees in areas such as sports administration, sports science, sports development, physical education, business studies, recreation management or marketing are commonly preference for sports administrator roles. Lastly, to pursue a career as a PE teacher, a bachelor’s degree in health or physical education along with any relevant teaching certification; would be required.

Other skills and competencies that would benefit you in this field include:

• Communication (written and verbal) – particularly for Sports information directors
• Planning and organisational skills
• Good people skills
• Being able to work well in a team
• Professional networking
• Decision-making skills
• A love of sports

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How to Stand Out

Get Certified

Certifications are a great way to distinguish yourself from others and, there are several you can choose from to enhance your career in sports management. Some of these are certifications in facility management, finance, CPR and first aid, fitness management, and health and safety. Depending on the avenue you take, you may need additional teaching certifications or certifications in human resource management.

Get Hands-On Experience

Work experience is always an excellent way to set yourself apart in any industry and this one is no exception. For this reason, securing an internship would be a great option for you to explore. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, there are many opportunities available to gain experience though some may not be as apparent.

For starters, you may try approaching schools to intern with them as an assistant to their PE teacher or coach. This could be part-time or full-time or even just after school hours during extra-curricular sporting activities.

If this is something you’re considering, you don’t have to limit yourself to only schools in your community, as there is a host of schools across the country from primary to tertiary. Here is a list of academic institutions within the TCI; use it as a check list if you wish, and don’t give up if you are unsuccessful with a few – you only need one favourable response.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s Sports Commission, which is responsible for governing sporting activities in the TCI, also offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. You can contact them through their website here or send them an email at departmentofsports@gov.tc to inquire on available roles. Opportunities may be in the areas of facility management, sports programming, sport compliance, and support. It is therefore very much worth you getting in contact as you are likely to find the area that best fits you.

Alternatively, it also worth approaching other bodies and groups like churches or clubs who may have sports teams that you can help to coach or manage on an ad-hoc basis. Some governing bodies that you can also contact are the Football association, the Softball federation, the Cycling federation, and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Get Practice

Getting practice can take different forms, but it is a great way to prepare yourself on some level for a career and to stay engaged. Try joining sports clubs (like Provo Sailing Academy) or learning the rules to different sports so that you would be able to one day teach it. Stay abreast on the latest in sports by following sports magazines like Sports Illustrated and Athletic Business. You can subscribe to each of these to receive regular articles and updates on the industry or simply visit their website and social media pages on a regular basis to read the latest information.

If you are not looking to start a subscription, you may find the links at the bottom of this post of some use in getting started. Alternatively, feel free to browse our other career topics if you are still undecided or send us a message if you would like more personalised advice.

Fun fact – Tug of war was an Olympic event between 1900 and 1920.

Learn how to pursue a career in Sports Management within these regions

Resources: Use the first link below to sign up for affordable courses in Sports Management at Udemy and get certificates upon completion. We have also included an Amazon link to a Sports Management textbook that can help you to start building your knowledge even before officially beginning a post-secondary course.

1. List of affordable courses in Sports Management at Udemy: https://rb.gy/ywinzu
2. Russell Hoye, Sport Management: Principles and Applications at Amazon: https://rb.gy/cbaqri

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