A Career in Sports Management
Alternative Careers | July 27, 2010 | Share
Sports have always been an integral part of our day-to-day lives. From our early formative years each one of us has had the opportunity to play some sort of sport, be it Cricket, Football, Hockey, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball etc. We have always grown up wanting to play someday like Tendulkar or Ronaldo or Pete Sampras. A passion for sports is one thing that we carry all through our lives. But, not everybody is as talented or fortunate enough to play as these distinguished gentlemen. So if we cannot play the sport of our choice, do we have a career in sports?
Traditionally, a career in sports has always been looked as something to do with coaching roles, player management, physical trainers, scouts or sports facility proprietors. Fortunately, for all the sports enthusiasts this notion has started to change due to the advent of globalization, frenzy fan base, media hype, increased television viewership and fierce competition among advertisers.
Today, if one has a passion to make a career in sports, outside playing or coaching roles, there are so many roles that one can take. Even if one has not had a prior experience of playing at state or national level, this does not become a bottleneck. If one has an experience or inclination in the medicine field and body sciences, one can take up a career in sports medicine. If one has a thing for writing, sports journalism can be a great kick-start for a great career.
But more recently, it is the advent of sports management that has caught the eye as one of the most exciting, well-paying and fulfilling careers. If one has a passion for sports, if one wants to be involved in day-to-day activities of the sports, and use one’s decision making skills in handling the activities of the sports, then a career in sports management is just the right one to take a plunge into. It has been a hot prospect in the West, but slowly and steadily the concept is on the ascendency in India. With IPL becoming stronger after every edition, the need for enthusiastic, smart, committed and individuals with high levels of professional integrity are much in demand.
As sports managers, there are a horde of career avenues that open up. One can take up a role in Sports Administration where one can actively take part in the day-to-day working of any professional sporting body. The job role would involve planning and execution of various sporting events, talent hunt programs, events for sport’s popularity and other daily activities that take place in the functioning of big sporting bodies.
Another role is in Sports law, where one can study sporting laws prevalent across the globe and take up cases related to player abuse, drug abuse, contract abuse or other legal tangles that any sports body/sportsperson can get into. Also, Sports Marketing is one role that not only the sports but the marketing and advertising industry also loves to deal with. A career in sports marketing can lead you to marketing and brand management roles of sporting bodies. The role has its share of glamour due to the corporate sector actively involved in as partners or advertisers for sporting activities. With grounds, teams, player kits/shirts and accessories to be branded and marketed, this role offers a great deal for innovation and can be thought-provoking.
Another exciting role that sports management can provide is Player Management. In this role one can be expected to take care of player interests, both professional as well as financial. With advertisers chasing sporting icons for multimillion dollar deals, this role offers great potential for marketing and financial professionals. This role could also involve keeping a track of player career, brand management, public and media relations as well as looking after financial and other logistical affairs.
Sports management also throws up a career in Facility and Sports event management in which one can be expected to grow as a facilitator for logistic and accessory support. With sporting extravaganzas being organized every other year, this role offers lots of scope in planning and execution of particular sporting events, boarding and lodging of sports persons as well as scheduling and running the show and make it popular among the masses. Golf, Polo and other equestrian sports are some sports which routinely involve sporting event managers to take care of the sporting as well as the leisurely activities.
A career in sports management can lead to hefty pay packages, with lots of glamorous roles and responsibilities. Proximity to various sporting icons and business/media people only adds up as an exciting perk. But more than the pay packages, it is about doing something with one’s passion. The game which we have all grown playing, a career in managing such a game and grooming professionals playing such games can be a fulfilling career to say the least. This is a fitting culmination to turning our passion into our potential.
Any graduation level degree makes one eligible for a post-graduate diploma course in Sports Management. One can do Bachelors in Physical Education or other related courses to be eligible too. The flagship course the PGDSM (Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management) is currently available in two institutions in India: Algappa University, Tamil Nadu and Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Science, New Delhi. Some private institutions with business houses and retired sporting icons’ back up have also sprung up in recent times. International Institute of Sports Management is one such institute which has Mahesh Bhupati and Ravi Shastri on its advisory board.
One can also look to U.K and U.S.A for some of the best courses are being provided there. MBA in Football Industries at University of Liverpool offers aspirants an opportunity to make a future in football and associated industries. Also sports programmes at University of San Francisco and North Western University, Chicago offer a comprehensive course structure which can aid to a career as well as personal development.
A career in sports management is only for those individuals who are deeply passionate about the sport, who can go any lengths for their love for the game and one who are committed and have a sense of professional integrity. Individuals who have a high sense of sporting culture, sportsman spirit as well a feeling of brotherhood and team spirit would do well in this career. Good communication, inter personal and business skills only add up to the list of desired personal attributes.
Go on. Its game time!
Ravish Prabhakar
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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This is a very well formed article. Ravish, please come up with more like this.
You have thrown light into an area which does not have much exposure in India. With more Institutions offering PG courses in Sports Management, the plight of Indian Sports is sure to become prosperous in the coming years. Indian Sports need more people with serious interest in sport rather than business minded people doing these courses. Also, the govt and private sporting clubs could start awareness programs to get more youth into Sports Management. Go on. Its game time!