Are you game for a career in sports management? Here’s how you can find out – you are one of those nail-biters or those who believe in wearing a lucky jersey when you watch your favourite team play. You consume sports memes on social media as if part of your daily diet. If you happen to be an active sports player yourself, you would almost definitely have a WhatsApp group with your team members.
If any of the above is true in your case, a career in sports management is meant for you. Now, while sports weren’t always among the preferred choices for career in the Indian mindset, the same does not hold true anymore. The onset of sports leagues and tournaments has led to a spike in the interest around sports-related careers. This provides the sports aspirants of today with the right avenues to realise their dream job, such as a fulfilling career in sports management.
Here we discuss in great detail how you can make a career in sports management and what salary ranges to expect.
Wondering how to find a career that reflects your passions? Read on: 8 Steps to Finding a Career That You Are Passionate About
Typically, when it comes to a career in sports, the dream would be to play for your country. And that is all what most people think there is to a career in sports. However, there are many people involved behind the scenes of a sporting event. These are the people who run the show – from organising matches, monitoring team finances, negotiating contracts of athletes to managing all key aspects related to the business and governance of sports at all levels. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, there are many roles through which you could be a part of the sports industry, and sports management is one of them.
So, how do you pursue a career in sports management?
Catch that sports management degree
No matter what educational background you had in high school, you could always opt for a bachelor’s degree in sports management. Although a commerce background does prove to be advantageous in that it equips you with a certain understanding of business, accounts and finance related aspects of sports management. However, if you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field but have the aptitude for sports management, you could still go for a master’s degree in sports management. Having a master’s degree in sports management also proves to be an edge over other competing candidates. Alternatively, an MBA in sports management is another tremendous boost for aspirants seeking a career in sports management.
Hit the right sports management college
It is essential to find out which colleges or institutes carry the most reputation in the field you choose. The best way to do this is to connect with the alumni or digging deep into student reviews. You must do this enquiry based on which course you apply for. For instance, the same college that offers a highly-praised bachelor’s degree in sports management may not necessarily do so for an MBA in sports management. Once you find the college that best suits your level of study for sports management, start applying.
Some colleges that offer sports management courses in India:
- National Academy of Sports Management, Mumbai – BBA in Sports Management
- George College, Kolkata, West Bengal – BA in Sports Management
- Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal – BA in Sports Management
- International Institute of Sports Management (IISM), Mumbai – BA in Sports Management
Up your score with sports management internships
The best opportunities to intern in sports management are gained from working with local sports organisations, amateur team leagues or teams affiliated to schools/communities. These provide you with on-field exposure of interacting with athletes, vendors, coaching teams, managing finances, and so on, which are tremendous learning opportunities for a career in sports management. This is also your platform to earn some great recommendations from your employers for future prospects.
Here’s why internships matter in the long run: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship After College?
When it’s sports management, go wider with your skillset
No matter which hat you don, as a professional in sports management you must be an adept multitasker. A combination of professional sports, business management, public relations and marketing constitute the fast-paced domain of sports management. Since you would be interacting and negotiating with a diverse group of people, ranging from athletes to vendors to PR professionals, as a professional in sports management, your verbal and written skills would need to be top notch.
Here’s an interesting read on simple ways to improve communication skills: 5 Tips to Improve Your Communications Skills Without Spending a Penny
Careers in sports management and expected salary ranges
- Sports Agents: From legal to PR to financial representatives, they represent sports figures and procure sources of employment and endorsements for them.
Expected salary package: While your actual salary would depend on the people you represent and work with, the average salary for Sports Agents would be between INR 25,000-70,000 per month.
- Sports Information Directors: Similar to the role of a PR representative, they provide statistics, team and player notes and other information for college or university sports teams.
Expected salary package: This is a role for experienced professionals, with an average range of salary between INR 40,000-70,000 per month.
- Sports Marketing Managers: Besides promoting sporting events, teams and players, they also market services and products endorsed by them through campaigns.
Expected salary package: The average range of a Sports Marketing Manager falls between INR 50,000-80,000 per month.
- Sports Lecturers: From teaching sports to conducting physical education tests, sports lectureship involves teaching within and outside classroom settings, donning the role of athletic coach and supervising after school sporting activities.
Expected salary package: Similar to other teaching professions, the average salary in this role is somewhere between INR 15,000-39,000.
- Sports Events Managers: Everything from organising a sports team’s social gathering to an international sports event, is the responsibility of sports events managers.
Expected salary package: While the average salary of a Sports Events Manager is around INR 36,000 per month, it varies with the number of years in experience.
Some other careers related to the sports management industry along with expected salary ranges
- Sports Statisticians: The primary duty of this role is to analyse data related to sports outcomes, keep track of the latest trends in the industry, record statistics as they occur, preparing final statistics for a financial report, and entering computer data.
Expected salary package: The average salary for this role could vary around an approximate figure of INR 40,000.
- Sports Psychologists: Playing an extremely important role in the sports industry, they help in counseling the mental state and managing confidence of players after a poor performance or injury, to get back onto the field.
Expected salary package: The average starting salary for Sports Psychologists is around INR 15,000 per month, which goes up depending on the experience level.
- Sports Physiotherapists: Similar to regular physiotherapists, they offer advice on how to avoid sports injuries, treat injuries and recover fast. They could work with health centres or with sporting teams.
Expected salary package: The average starting salary for this role is somewhere around INR 15,000.
The one thing that runs common across these roles in the sports management industry, and therefore, needs to be cultivated in every aspiring sports management professional, is the ability to multitask with exceptional organisational and communication skills. So, if this sounds like a great catch for a career, go ahead and convert your love for sports into a successful livelihood.
The salary figures are indicative and may vary.
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