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What Jobs in Sport Can I Do?
If you love an active lifestyle then a job in sport could be the right career path for you. Working in sport doesn't just mean being an athlete, it could mean being a sports coach, or working for a sports organisation in a number of different roles. Many careers in sport can be found in schools and charities too so don't think your options are limited to only being an athlete.
'A career in sport doesn't just mean being a sportsperson'
To help you discover your options, we've provided an overview of the types of sports jobs you could expect to find.
Athlete or sportsperson
To be an athlete of sportsperson, you first need to have a talent for a particular sport. You also need to be willing to commit a lot of time to developing your ability, particularly if you intend to compete at professional level. To become a sportsperson, you may not need to have any particular qualifications although having good grades at GCSE and A-Level will certainly help if you want to apply for sports scholarships.
To be a professional athlete you need to have bundles of energy. If the idea of waking up early to train in all weather doesn't phase you, then a career in sport could be for you. But being a sportsperson isn't just about physical exercise, you'll still need to study your discipline and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle to gain an advantage over competitors.
Coach or trainer
If you don't fancy being a sportsperson yourself, you could be well-suited to training others in a particular discipline. Many coaches and trainers were once sportspeople themselves, but this isn't always the case. If you have expert knowledge of a sport and have good communication skills, you could have a rewarding career coaching other people.
To become a coach, you'll likely need to have good passes at GCSE and A-Level, ideally in Physical Education. You'll also need to gain coaching certificates in your particular sport.
Sports journalist or broadcaster
If you're more of a sports fan than an athlete, a career as a sports journalist could be perfect for you. You may be an 'all-rounder' and cover all types of sport as part of your job, or concentrate on one particular sport. To be a sports journalist or broadcaster, you'll need to have good passes at GCSE level, particularly in English. Having a qualification in media would also be beneficial.
As a journalist or broadcaster, your job could involve travel. If you like the idea of travelling to different sporting events and meeting sportspeople, then this job could tick all the boxes for you. Because there are many different paths into media careers, it's also a good idea to get some work experience under your belt. We have a whole series of posts dedicated to helping you get the most out of work experience in the Advice section of our site. To find out more about how to get into sports journalism, take a look at this video from the Royal Television Society:
Marketer
A career in marketing lends itself to many different industries and that includes sport. To become a marketer, you'll need to have A-Level passes, ideally in English and a business subject as well as a degree in marketing or communications. You could find yourself working as a sports coordinator in schools, as a marketing manager for a sports organisation, or for a big sports brand.
You'll need to have a strong interest in sport and enjoy being creative. You should also be internet-savvy and have good communication skills.
To give you a better idea what it's like to study marketing, read our posts 60 Second Interview: Business Management and Marketing Student and 60 Second Interview: Digital Marketing Apprentice.
Nutritionist
Sports nutritionists provide dietary advice to sportspeople and conduct research into sports performance. To become a sports nutritionist, you'll need to have A-Levels in Science subjects and a degree in nutrition. A strong interest in sport is a big plus as well as an interest in biology.
For more information on jobs in sport, take a look at our sports and fitness career zone.
Image credits:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremywilburn/5430761523
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