AREAS
SPORT MANAGEMENT
Athlete Representation
Public Relations
Sales
Marketing
Publicity
Promotions
Operations
Event Coordination
Program Coordination
Fund Raising
University Athletics Administration
EMPLOYERS
Professional teams
Professional athletes
Sport associations (e.g., NBA, PGA, NCAA)
Local sport and tourism corporations
Arenas
Auditoriums
Stadiums
Colleges and universities
Health clubs
Sport facilities
STRATEGIES
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. Pursue a
degree in law to aid in negotiating contracts. Obtain accounting or business
skills and experience. Gain experience with public speaking and sales. Volunteer
to do publicity for campus organizations or local nonprofit groups. Volunteer
to coordinate athletic programs and events such as marathons, golf tournaments,
or special olympics for campus organizations or local non-profit groups. Write
articles or columns for campus or local newspapers. Join sport-oriented associations
and organizations. Obtain an internship or part-time job with a team or other
athletic organization. Work with minor league or local teams as a way to enter
the field and gain experience. Be willing to work in any capacity to get started.
AREAS
SPORTING GOODS
Store Management
Brand/Product Representation
Product Development
Product Distribution
Marketing
EMPLOYERS
Sporting goods manufacturers
Sporting goods stores
Exercise equipment manufacturers
STRATEGIES
Major in business, marketing, sport management, or related field. Obtain a part-time
job or internship in the area of wholesaling or retailing. Develop excellent
communication skills. Build relationships with coaches, athletic directors,
and college equipment/uniform representatives. Volunteer as a team equipment
manager.
AREAS
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
EMPLOYERS
Public and private schools, K-12
Colleges and universities
STRATEGIES
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. Become a graduate teaching
assistant for physical education courses.
AREAS
COACHING
Professional Coaching
High School Coaching
College Coaching
Private Coaching
EMPLOYERS
Professional sport teams
Colleges and universities
High schools and middle schools
Recreational organizations or leagues (e.g., YMCA)
Country clubs
Racket clubs
Golf and tennis resorts
Cruise Lines
City parks and recreation departments
STRATEGIES
Consider majoring in exercise science, sport management, or physical education.
Obtain teacher licensure for high school and middle school coaching opportunities.
Gain extensive, advanced playing experience. Maintain current CPR and first
aid certifications. Gain 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.
AREAS
OFFICIATING
Refereeing
Umpiring
Line Judging
EMPLOYERS
Professional sport leagues
High school athletic associations
College and university athletic associations
Amateur athletic associations (e.g., United States Tennis Association)
Recreational leagues
STRATEGIES
Be prepared to maintain full-time employment in addition to refereeing. Volunteer
to umpire youth or Little League games. Obtain certification to officiate in
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) games. 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
and associations. Attend an umpire training school or camp for professional
opportunities. Gain Professional Football Referees Association licensure or
other applicable credential. Obtain the required ten years of collegiate football
refereeing experience before applying to The National Football League (NFL).
AREAS
SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
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
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. Show genuine care
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).
AREAS
EXERCISE AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
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
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.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Be willing to work with sport teams in any capacity, realizing that most people
start in low-level positions. Careers in sport and athletics are extremely competitive.
Get as much experience as possible while in school.
Join professional associations. Read their publications and attend their meetings, seminars, and conventions to learn more about the field, as well as to make important contacts.
Look for jobs in the minor leagues as a way to enter the sport industry.
Earn a graduate or professional degree for increased opportunities.
Maintain excellent personal fitness and athletic proficiency.
Learn to relate well to a variety of people from various backgrounds.
Consider entering the field of athletics through skills and experience in another area such as accounting, sales, or information systems.
Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University
of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA
/ADEA Employer