By Christine Liu

Staff Writer

Sports management is one of the world’s biggest and most lucrative industries with a net worth of $200 billion.  Avid sport fans who long to be in the arena but can’t drive a golf ball like Tiger Woods or dunk a basketball like LeBron James can pursue a career in sports management.  This field is an intensely competitive industry, with a very limited number of job openings and, usually, a hard climb from the bottom of the sports management ladder.  So how do you get to become the brains behind the brawns and what are the types of careers involved in sports management?

Sports management comprises a diversity of careers; depending on the area of the sports industry, the level of management, and the type of organization.  Options in sports management range from financial operations of a sports team, representing an athlete, and media relations to the sales of sporting goods.  Here are some common jobs in sports management:

Sports Information Director

- Act as public relations liaison between athletic teams and the media.

- Create press releases, organize press conferences for the athletes/coaches, and manage public relations for the team.

- Works to ensure that organization is portrayed in a positive light.

Sports Medicine Professional

- Integrates physical and psychological issues concerning sports and wellness.

- Studies athletic performance and coaching.

Sports Marketing Specialist

- Coordinates activities at sporting events and charity events.

- Helps an organization increase ticket sales or raise awareness of a cause.

- Works wit sponsors to promote products at sporting events.

Sports Agent

- Represent athletes, negotiate contracts or product endorsement deals for their clients.

- Constantly networking to find work for their clients.

- The competitiveness of the work, combined with the need for managerial, financial and legal expertise, many agents obtain MBA degrees or graduate from law school.

- Usually work on weekends to network with sponsors at sporting events and recruit new clients.

How DoYou Break Into Sports Management?

Academic Degrees

Many people get a degree in sports management, law, or business.  Remember that a degree, even a masters degree in sports management, does little to help someone land a job in t sports industry.  Instead, it is more about who you know.

Location, Location, Location

Being in a certain region strong in the sports industry (Boston, Los Angeles, New York, etc.) or being in a school with Division I teams is ideal in getting a great internship or job.  For example, pursuing a graduate degree in sports management in Indianapolis provides access to the Pacers, Colts, USA swimming and gymnastics.

Networking and Internships

If you have a family member working with a sports team now, you are very lucky because everyone else basically needs to network their behind off.  The high competition for sports management jobs means that networking and internship experience is crucial.  Jobs are limited, and turnover is small, so networking should be number one priority when considering a job in this industry.  To check out legitimate internship programs on the web, see sites like the National Collegiate Athletic Association (ncc.org) or inquire at your college athletic department.

Nearby Sports Management Companies in Los Angeles Include:

Sports Management Services Top – Life Sports Management

Fegan Sports Management – Pacific Sports Management

Excel Sports Management – West Coast Sports Management

Diamond Stars Sports Management – Wasserman Media Group

If you would like to pursue a graduate degree in sports management, visit this website to see the universities and the type of degree they offer: http://www.sportslinkscentral.com/Sports_Education/grad.html

Keep in mind that a sports management degree is not necessary to work in the industry.  You are better off pursuing a degree in business or law as long as you continue to stay involved in sports management through internships and networking.  Better yet, find an MBA program where you can choose your focus to be sports management or a dual program where you obtain an MBA and masters in sports administration.