Looking at the sports industry, it’s only a few professions that catch our attention, like that of an athlete. Still, there is a broad spectrum of sports-related interdependent jobs that are beyond just athletic finesse. Jobs across this tangent are expanding faster than ever, with new opportunities every single day.

The sports industry has been growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% since 2014 and created a global market worth of $488.5 billion in the year 2018. Experts predict that it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% in the near future and reach nearly $614.1 billion by 2022. With such a phenomenal rate of growth in the industry and an overwhelming range of opportunities, it is the right time to think of a career in this industry.
So, let’s dive in and explore the various career possibilities and decide which one is meant for you:

Sportsperson

A professional athlete is anyone who competes in individual or team organized sports. Thousands and lakhs of youngsters aspire to make their way to the top, but only a few live their dream, and even if they do, their careers are short-lived. So what does it take to become a professional player? Well, it is your strong will power and a tiny bit of luck that does the magic. There is no specific degree that you need in order to be successful, but professional coaching and playing regularly will work in your favor.

Skills required:

• Interpersonal skills
• Concentration
• Decision making
• Hand-eye coordination
• Physical stamina
• Strong determination
• Discipline

Athletic trainer

Athletic trainers work on diagnosing and treating injuries sustained in the muscles and bones by athletes. They are healthcare workers and also help the athletes in preventing any further injuries. To practice as a professional athletic trainer, the minimum qualification required is a Bachelor’s degree in this field; however, a master’s degree is preferable.

Skills required:

• Good communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Compassion towards the patients
• Good observation skills
• Emotional control

Sports Coach
The name speaks for itself. Sports coaches train sports enthusiasts to participate in matches at a professional level and familiarize them with the know-how of the game. There are various levels and groups of athletes that you can work with, ranging from school to state and national level teams.

To pursue a career in this field, you can look forward to a degree in sports coaching, sports management, and sports science. However, more than a degree, your experience in the field and an exhaustive knowledge of the game are valued. You can’t teach a game unless you know every tactic of it.

Skills required:

• Good social skills
• Selflessness
• Team building ability
• Patience
• Motivation skills
• Organization skills
• Understanding the physical and mental state of the athletes

Athletic Director

Athletic directors usually look over multiple aspects of an athletic program, which includes hiring coaches, budgeting, promotions and the list goes on. Athletic Directors typically have a Bachelor’s degree in education, physical education or a relevant field, and a Master’s in sports management, administration, or business.

Skills required:

• Good Leadership
• Managerial skills
• Good planning
• Interpersonal communication
• Organization skills
• Managing money

Marketing and Promotion Coordination

The job description for a marketing and promotion coordinator include preparing reports, analyzing the market, and implementing marketing strategies. This job requires a degree in marketing or a related field or working experience in digital and on-ground marketing.

Skills required:

• Planning
• Market Analysis
• Understanding the needs of your client
• Exhaustive knowledge of the market
• Research skills
• Direct marketing

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists help their clients overcome injuries and disabilities with massage, exercise, and other training methods. Besides recovery, they also help in preventing any future injuries. To pursue a career in this field, one must have a degree in physical therapy or any other related field.

Skills required:

• Assessing and interpreting patients
• Consulting with other health care professionals
• Excellent analytical and logical thinking
• Compassion
• Up-to-date knowledge of treatment practices

 

Medical Assistant

MAs employed at a sports facility usually attend patients under the supervision of an orthopedist. Besides the usual responsibilities of collecting the patient’s history and symptoms, they are also expected to educate them about the procedures, repercussions, preventions, and so on. In a sports arena, MA can have various tasks ranging from administrative to clinical jobs. Hence, there is no specific qualification that is required.

Even though the nature of this job is not specific, some skills will add weightage to your resume:

• Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology
• Administrative skills
• Compassion
• Quick action to injuries

Sports and Fitness nutritionist

A sports nutritionist advises athletes on nutritional regimes that will help them achieve optimal performance on the field. A professional in this field need to be aware of the nutrients that athletes must include in their diet and the organic substances that will benefit them the most. Along with an in-depth knowledge of nutrients, they need to be aware of sports performance, requirements of various sports, and the medical history of their client. An aspiring nutritionist should have a degree in nutrition or related fields of interest.

Skills required:

• A creative and innovative thought process
• Excellent people skills
• Social skills
• Knowledge of nutrition
• Being able to explain the complex terms in simple words

Sports Journalist

Sports journalists gather information and report new developments that unfold in the sports industry. A sports background, first-hand experience as an athlete can give you an upper hand during recruitments.

Skills required:

• Knowledge of the game
• Staying up-to-date
• Interviewing skills
• Research and analysis
• Social skills

Sports announcer

A sports announcer is someone who paints a picture of the entire match with his descriptive commentary on radio, television, and internet broadcast outlets. As it requires extensive knowledge of the game, we often see retired athletes and coaches taking up this job. Someone with a degree in communication, journalism, and radio is eligible for this post.

The skillset that is a must if you want to create a career in this field:

• Knowledge of the sport
• Street smart public speaking skills
• An engaging voice and tone
• Writing skills
• Technical savvy

Sports Agent

Sports agents handle sponsorship, public relations, financial planning, and contract negotiations on behalf of their clients. Even though it is not mandatory, a law degree is the best way to get into this profession because contract negotiation requires a legal foundation.

Skills required:

• A love for the sport
• People skills
• Sales skills
• Expert knowledge of their client’s career
• Networking

Umpire and Referee

The job of an umpire is to officiate at sporting events to ensure that the match meets the standards of the game and players stand by the rules and regulations. Furthermore, they provide that the athletes are adopting no malpractices to win.

Skills required:

• Quick judgment and decision making
• Social perceptiveness
• Active listening
• Active learning
• Critical thinking
• Time management

Sports Photographer

A sports photographer takes pictures of sporting events, teams, or an athlete; you can work with a particular team, or work as a freelance photographer, and offer your photos for magazines and newspapers. A degree in journalism, photography, or a related field will be a boon for you during placements.

Skills required:

• Love for the sport
• Passion for photography
• Quick reflex
• Coordination
• Monitoring

Sports Lawyer

Sports lawyers represent their client’s legal concerns, and they often double up as their agents to put forth their financial interests during contract negotiation. You are entitled to various responsibilities such as securing and interpreting employment contracts, breaking down the legal repercussions of their acts, salary negotiation, overlooking sponsorship deals, and so forth. This job description mandates that you have a law degree.

Skills required:

• In-depth knowledge of legal terms
• Analysis of the industry
• Good interpersonal skills
• Accurate information about their client’s history

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The Sports School, Bangalore was as established with the vision to integrate sports and education to encourage young sports enthusiasts and support professional athletes. With new opportunities arising in the Indian Sports Industry every day, we have introduced courses like BBA in Sports Management, MSc in Psychology with Sports specialization in order to keep up with the dynamics of the industry. Our schooling, pre-university program along with UG & PG courses are backed by the cohesive educational experience prepares well-rounded professionals who are both excellent at their game while being academically outstanding and can easily mold themselves in any career they wish to pursue in the sporting industry. 

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Physical fitness is of the utmost value for a career in sports, and when it comes to a game like a football that requires you to run across a hundred-yard field, it becomes all the more vital. Your stamina and speed on the area play a key role in your game, apart from fast reflex and football tactics.

Enhancing your physical endurance for a game doesn’t happen overnight; it takes years of practice and dedication to achieve that stamina and speed that can take you at the top of your game.  Here are a few drills that can help you build up stamina and endurance:

1. Interval Sprints

Interval sprints require you to run a few yards and rest and then repeat the drill. These drills will help you prepare for the stop and run nature of the game. Here are a few variations of interval drills that can benefit you:
Sprint-Stride Intervals: This technique will include alternate intervals of sprint and stride across the field. For instance, a player can run 20 yards of a sprint, followed by 20 yards of stride, and then repeat it until the endpoint of the field; this will make up for 1 set. Take a short break, say about 20-30s, and then repeat.

Tempo Run: Start at the corner of an end zone and stride for 100 yards. Jog across to the opposite side of the field and stride 100 yards again. Now jog back to the starting point and take a break. Repeat this drill for four times.

Huddle Sprints: Players sprint 20 yards to duplicate the action of a game and then jog back to the starting point. Take a small breather for about 15s and then repeat the drill. This is a very effective drill for replicating the aerobic and anaerobic conditions of a live match.

2. Dribble and Run

This drill requires a ball. You start at the touchline and dribble the ball at your best speed across the width of the pitch until you are parallel to the center. Now leave the ball there and run to the opposite side at 80% of your initial speed. Pace back to the center, maintaining your speed, and dribble the ball to the starting point as fast as you can. Take rest for the same time in which you finish the first set and then repeat the drill.

3. Around the Pitch

As the name suggests, this drill requires you to run across the field. For warming up your body, jog across the perimeter of the field until you reach back the starting point. Now run at 70% of your maximum speed and try to cover half of the lap maintaining it, and then jog your way through the rest of the lap. In the next round, increase the area you cover by a sprint to 70%. Slowly, but steadily keep expanding the area you cover with sprints until you finish the entire perimeter in one go.

4. Figure of Eight

Almost everyone has heard of the infamous figure of eight drills. Just like the name suggests, you have to make an ‘eight’ while dribbling the football. Take two cones and place them 4-5 yards apart. Now Dribble across the two cones while making an oval around each at your maximum speed. Throughout the drill, take short steps, and keep the ball near your feet, hit it with every step. It will give you better control over the football along with fitness conditioning. Condition training and physical fitness are as necessary as a solid command on the ball for a football professional. These are just a few examples of the various methods that you can adopt to increase your endurance in a game.

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The Sports School is the first school in India to have a FIFA Qualified Pro Certified Artificial Football Turf where we train our students for professional-level football. We, along with our Sporting Partners for Football Bengaluru FC, provide the best possible training to young enthusiasts and take them to the next level. Along with the regular training program, we also offer other programs like Monthly Sports Training & Weekend Sports Camp so that you can train and grow as per your convenience. Be it for fun or professional training purposes; we got you covered!