Love the adrenaline rush of a sporting event but cannot become a full-time sportsman /sportswoman? Did you know that there are several stable career options that can be built around sports that will help you stay in touch with your favorite game? In this article, we explore 10 such career options in sports and the recommended education pathway for each.
Career Options in Sports
1. Sports Physiotherapist
A sports physiotherapist treats athletes’ injuries and helps them reach the peaks of their physical performance. They should be service oriented with good health and constitution. They generally work with sports clubs, sports federations, hospitals and clinics, gyms and sports teams. They start their career as junior therapists and with experience, they can get promoted to team therapists.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Science with Biology
- Graduation: Bachelor in Physiotherapy
2. Sports Nutritionist
A sports nutritionist counsels athletes and sports teams on nutritional regimes to overcome any deficiencies and to enhance their performance. They should have good communication and listening skill with good physical health. They start their career as certified sports nutritionists and with experience, they can get promoted to consultant sports nutritionist. They work with sports teams, sports organizations, sports federations, sports clubs, etc.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Science with Biology
- Graduation: Bachelor in Food Science & Nutrition
- Post Graduation: PG Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics OR M.Sc. in Foods & Nutrition
3. Sports Psychologist
Sports psychologists are professionals who counsel athletes on how to improve their mental health and overcome any behavioral and mental issues so that the athletes can perform to the best of their abilities. They should be able to identify problems, evaluate options and implement solutions after understanding all the information given. They start their career as junior psychologists and with experience they can get promoted to team psychologists. They generally work with various sports teams, federations and clubs or they can work independently too.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Humanities with Psychology
- Graduation: Bachelor in Psychology
- Post Graduation: Masters in Clinical Psychology
4. Sports Event Manager
A sports event manager is responsible for organizing, managing, and executing sporting events such as tournaments and promotional events. They should have good communication and management skills. They work with wide range of organizations including sports teams, event management firms, etc. They start their career as an event assistant and with experience and the right skill set they can get promoted to an event coordinator.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Commerce
- Graduation: Bachelor (Any)
- Post Graduation: Diploma in Event Management
5. Sports Marketing Manager
Sports marketing managers combine elements of sports and marketing to promote teams and sporting events or use sports to sell products and services. They interact with people in the sports fraternity, clients, media professionals, players’ managers, etc. These managers should have the ability to manage financial and personnel resources. They start their career as a marketing executive and can get promoted to a chief marketing officer.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Commerce
- Graduation: Bachelor (Any)
- Post Graduation: MBA in Marketing
6. Sports Reporter
A sports reporter’s job is to collect and analyze information about sporting events and write news stories for publication or broadcast. He/she should have excellent communication and active listening skill. Sports reporters find employment with various organizations in print media, visual media and internet companies.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Humanities
- Graduation: Bachelor in Mass Communication
- Post Graduation: MA in Mass Communication/Journalism
7. Sports Photojournalist
A sports photojournalist takes informative images of sporting events around the world for video and print media. Photojournalism is a competitive field. They should be creative and detail oriented. They should have excellent observation skill. They start their career as staff photographers and with experience, they become chief photographers. Photojournalists get employment with various organization including newspapers, magazine, photo agencies and publishing companies.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Any
- Graduation: Bachelor in Fine Arts
- Post Graduation: MA / Diploma in Photography
8. Sports Presenter
Sports Presenters are the on-air or live performance people that deliver sports stories or conduct shows to the broadcasting station’s live audience. Sports presenters work out of a studio and may also travel to do on-site or live reports. They should have excellent communication skills with a good sense of humor. They generally work with media companies and sports management groups.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Any
- Graduation: Any
- Post Graduation: Any
9. Sports Statistician
Sports statisticians are the people responsible for pooling information and drawing conclusions that sports fans love. They are concerned with the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of quantitative information. In the sports industry, statisticians are required to collect and analyze data regarding everything from simple stat-keeping to designing surveys and interpreting that information to assist with recruitment and drafting. A statistician should be highly analytical.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Science with Mathematics
- Graduation: Bachelor in Statistics
- Post Graduation: Masters in Statistics
10. Sports Coach
Sports coaches help people participating in sports achieve their full potential. A sports coach should be a sports lover, good leadership and interpersonal skills. A sports coach can work with various sports academies, educational institutions, etc. Sports coaches start their career as university coaches and with experience, they can become selection members.
Recommended Education Pathway:
- Plus Two: Any
- Graduation: BA in Physical Education
- Post Graduation: MA in Physical Education
Want to know if you are cut out for any of these sports-based jobs? Need more information about these career options in sports? Talk to our career experts today!
