The Career Path to Become a Sports Manager

Do you know that the global sports industry is worth between 480 to 620 billion USD? As the sports industry is expanding, so are the educational opportunities and jobs associated with it. This has also led to an incomparable increase in the scope of sports management. If you are among the rest of the aspirants who are interested in pursuing a career in sports management then you have landed at the correct spot. Read more to know about how to become a sports manager.

Who is a Sports Manager?

Sports Management involves handling nearly all aspects of an athletic program’s competition. These aspects include athletic training, providing suitable resources, ensuring the team and coach are on good terms, and handling other tasks necessary while conducting a sports tournament. A sports manager is an individual who is endowed with all these tasks. 

Sports managers are highly skilled professionals that operate in a variety of capacities, all to assist a sports organisation by promoting its goals and ensuring profitability. From amateur leagues and high schools to professional teams, these managers are needed at all levels of the sport. They typically work in an office setting, but during an athletic season, they may be required to travel for events and/or work extended hours or 7-day work weeks.

Also Read about Sports Management Jobs And Courses 

What Does a Sports Manager Do?

The core tasks/roles and responsibilities of a sports manager are listed below.

• The tasks of sports management might vary substantially from day today. These responsibilities include:
• Managing athlete, coach, and other athletic personnel’s public relations, as well as media relations
• Keeping track of the team’s travel plans
• The task of balancing an organization’s revenue with its financial responsibilities
• Organizing and documenting public events at which members of your team will be present.
• Team marketing efforts will be bolstered by partnering with promotional businesses, organizing fundraisers, and securing endorsements.
• Instructing team members and players on how to engage with the media properly.
• Keeping track of ticket sales

Role of a Sports Manager

As a sports manager, an individual is expected to perform certain tasks. It is important for individuals who wish to become sports managers to be aware of their job duties. The job duties of a sports manager are : 

• Responsible for creating and maintaining schedules
• To ensure compliance with rules and policies
• Must seek endorsement deals
• Ensure negotiation of contracts
• Responsible for maintaining positive public relations
• Promoting clients through different modes of media

How to Become a Sports Manager?

To establish a suitable career for yourself in the sports management industry, one must be aware of the correct steps that must be taken. While planning a career as a sports manager, candidates must start preparing from the early stages. We have briefly described the steps to becoming a sports manager below:

Passing Eligibility Criteria

Before commencing a career as a sports manager in the industry, an individual needs to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• A 10+2 in any stream with Physical Education as a compulsory subject, from a recognized board with aggregate marks of at least 50%.
• Must hold a bachelor’s degree in any relevant field.
• Must be actively involved in sports activities during his/her preparation for a career in the sports industry.
• Some universities also conduct entrance exams for a master’s degree in Sports Management. 
• Additionally, candidates should possess the required skill set to become sports managers.

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Getting an Undergraduate Degree

Students who wish to become a Sports Manager primarily must complete 10+2 from a recognized board in any stream with Physical Education as a compulsory subject. Once they have completed their 10+2, they must go for an undergraduate degree in a relevant field which is considered to be the most crucial step. Students can go for either Bachelor’s in Arts (BA) degree or Bachelors of Science (B.Sc) degree with a specialization in Sports Management. These programs will provide aspirants with the correct groundings and will act as a foundation for commencing a career as a sports manager.

Getting a Master’s Degree

To match industry standards, it is now required for undergraduate students to pursue a master’s degree in the same field. This will help aspirants in gaining a strong foundation for the required role. A master’s degree adds value to a candidate’s resume and at the same time equips them well with the industry demands and requirements. Students can opt for the following courses:

• Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management 
• MBA in Sports Management
• MA in Sports Management
• M.Sc in Sports Management 
• PhD in Sports Management 

After acquiring a master’s degree, candidates can start applying for job roles that interest them.  

Top Global Universities

While planning to pursue sports management, students might also be confused about the universities to apply for. We have listed the top 10 Sports Management Universities across the globe below for the benefit of the students.

Name of University	QS World University Ranking 2023
University of Massachusetts, USA	253
University of Florida, USA	188
Stanford University, USA	3
EU Business School, Germany	–
University of Liverpool, UK	190
Deakin University, Australia	266
International Academy of Sports Science and Technology, Switzerland	–
Loughborough University, UK	256
Coventry University, UK	651 – 700
De Montfort University, UK	801 – 1000

Top Indian Universities

For students who wish to pursue sports management from universities in India, we have listed below are the top colleges offering sports management-based courses in India:

• National Academy of Sports Management, Maharashtra
• Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, West Bengal
• International Institute of Sports Management, Maharashtra
• IIM, Rohtak
• KJ Somaiya Institute of Management
• Symbiosis Institute of Sports Management, Pune 
• University of Technology and Management, Meghalaya
• Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu
• Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Science, New Delhi

Skills Required to Become a Sports Manager

For those who wish to become a Sports managers, they must possess the following skills:

• Communication Skills
• Great Leadership Skills 
• Discipline 
• Analytical Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Decision Making Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Must be motivated enough
• Transparency while performing duties

What is life like as a Sports Manager?

Salaries for sports managers have the potential to be quite competitive. It depends on your skill level and the sport you participate in. General managers in the NFL and NBA, for example, can earn between $1 and $3 million (INR 8 crore to 24 crore) each year. Salaries are naturally lower at the collegiate level, but they’re still quite appealing to anyone who wants to make their passion for sports a career. A sports manager’s work schedule is considered to be hectic at times. This isn’t your average 9-to-5 job! Sports function on a seasonal basis, so certain times of the year will be busier than others. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic atmosphere. Consider combining a high-pressure corporate environment with the passion and intensity of sports.

The good news is that this is a pretty stable market for people seeking sports management degree careers. Sports managers will be needed as long as sports remain popular. Those that are the greatest will always be in high demand! The next stage is to study for your dream career. Now that you know how to become a general sports manager and what to anticipate when you obtain it, the next step is to study for it. You will be a solid contender for these competitive positions if you have the necessary education, motivation, and mentality. An MBA in Sports Management and a BA in Sports Management are available at EU Business School. Case studies and group exercises that represent the reality of a career in sports administration help students prepare for this competitive industry. There are also possibilities to attend exclusive conferences and learn from industry luminaries like Omar Berrada, alumni of the EU Business School and the COO of Manchester City Football Club.

Basic Sports Manager Job Description

Sports management is concerned with the commercial aspects of sports and recreation, such as facility management, promotion and marketing, and event planning. Financial management, sports administration, public relations, and/or accounting abilities are required for those interested in sports management. Sports managers are professionals that operate in a variety of capacities, all to assist a sports organization by promoting its goals and ensuring profitability. From amateur leagues and high schools to professional teams, these managers are needed at all levels of the sport.

Salary Trends

The scope of Sports Management jobs in India is expanding dramatically as the Indian sports industry emerges as a vital player in global marketplaces. As a result, the sports management business is flourishing in India, particularly in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. A graduate with a relevant master’s degree in Sports Management can earn somewhere around INR 28,000 to INR 40,000 per month as a Sports Manager. The salary can rise as the number of years of experience, educational qualifications, and skills increases with time and can eventually go up to INR 70,000 per month.

Note: Sports managers alongside agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes earned an average yearly salary of $90,930 (INR 75 lakh) in 2018, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The highest average salary that year was $109,010 (INR 90 lakh) for those in management of corporations and enterprises.

Additional Job Prospects

Some of the other well-known sports management job prospects may include:

• Coach
• Scout
• Athletic director
• Sport lawyer
• Public relations manager
• Facilities manager
• Financial analyst
• Fundraising manager
• Event coordinator

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FAQs

Hope you are now aware of what steps you must take to become a sports manager? If you require assistance in choosing the right university or course to kickstart your career in any field of study, then call our  Leverage Edu experts right now at 1800 57 2000.