Sports Jobs / Fitness Jobs / Sports Marketing Jobs

Career Guide to Sports and Fitness

Are you game for a career in Sports, Fitness or Recreation?

Do you enjoy sports or sporting activities? Do you happen to be a good leader who is great at inspiring others to do a better job? If so, then you may be a perfect candidate for a career in sports management.

When most people think of sports managers, they imagine the person who is the one managing the team. Although that is one major area of sports management, it isn't the only one. There are a lot more aspects of sports management that you may not have even think of.

You could manage the concession staff, or the advertising division. Having a career in sports management means that you could end up managing virtually any part of the running operations of a sports team or sports arena. If you desire to be a specific sports manger, you can do that, although you will have a harder time finding that competitive job. If you keep your options open, you will have an easier time getting a career in sports management.

Even if you want a career in sports management in a definite area of the field, such as team management, you still should start with openness with what you will manage. Your first priority should be working in the sports industry altogether. If you can get your feet in there, you will be much more suitable to be offered a job as a sports manager.

If you work at a sports complex as an ordinary staff, you could rise to the manager level from there. This usually happens if you demonstrate a lot of promise and express your intention of having a career in sports management. From there, you should make every effort to become the manager of the section of the stadium or other sports area that you are working in.

Once you become a victorious sports manager of one area, your bosses will have an easier time considering you for a management position in the area of sports that you most wish to work it. After all, it is a high honor to be a sports team manager. These folks often get a lot of credit for the state of the team and are sometimes put on par with the team's coach.

If you want a career in sports management for a professional sports team, then you will definitely need to prove that you have lots of initiative. Practically anyone could become a sports manager of the concession's staff, but it takes someone really exceptional to get promoted to managing a team.

If this is something that you are striving for, then you need to constantly educate yourself in management and do your utmost to be as good as you possibly can. If you have the drive, then you can do literally anything.

 If this sounds like something you’re interested in, then a career in Sports, Fitness or Recreation might be for you!

As leisure time and personal incomes have grown across the Nation, so has the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry. The industry includes about 122,000 establishments, ranging from art museums to fitness centers. Practically any activity that occupies a person’s leisure time, excluding the viewing of motion pictures and video rentals, is part of this industry.

Technology is a major part of producing arts, entertainment, and recreation activities; for example, lighting and sound are vital for concerts and themed events and elaborate sets often are required for plays. However, most of this work is contracted to firms outside of the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry.

Many people in this industry work outdoors, whereas others may work in hot, crowded, or noisy conditions. Some jobs, such as those at fitness facilities or in amusement parks, involve some manual labor and, thus, require physical strength and stamina. Also, athletes, dancers, and many other performers must be in particularly good physical condition. Many jobs include customer service responsibilities, so employees must be able to work well with the public.

In 2006, cases of work-related illness and injury averaged 5.3 for every 100 full-time workers, higher than the average of 4.4 for the entire private sector. Risks of injury are high in some jobs, especially those of athletes. Although most injuries are minor, including sprains and muscle pulls, they may prevent an employee from working for a period.

The arts, entertainment, and recreation industry provided about 1.9 million wage-and-salary jobs in 2006.

About 58 percent of these jobs were in the industry segment other amusement and recreation industries, which include golf courses, membership sports and recreation clubs, and physical fitness facilities

What Education/Certifications do you need for:
 Sports Jobs / Fitness Jobs / Sports Marketing Jobs

About 40 percent of all workers in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry have no formal education beyond high school. In the case of performing artists or athletes, talent and years of training are more important than education. However, upper-level management jobs usually require a college degree.

 Other qualifications. There are multiple training and education options for these workers, including technical school, an associate degree, an apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. Sound engineering technicians can best prepare by getting technical school, community college, or college training in broadcast technology, sound engineering technology, communications technology, electronics, or computer networking. They may then begin working and learn from more experienced technicians. Less formal training is required for audio and video equipment technicians. Many workers have community college degrees, but they are not always required. Workers may substitute on-the-job training for education and may gain experience by working as an assistant to audio and video equipment technicians.

Current & Future Job Outlook for:
Sports Jobs / Fitness Jobs / Sports Marketing Jobs

 Job prospects. Employment opportunities should be available in a wide range of settings, including golf courses, parks and outdoor recreational facilities, and amusement parks. The arts, entertainment, and recreation industry has relied heavily on workers under the age of 25 to fill seasonal and lesser skilled positions. About 24 percent of all jobs in this industry are held by workers under age 25, compared to 14 percent in all industries combined. Opportunities should be available for young, seasonal, part-time, and lesser skilled workers. In addition, the industry is expected to hire a growing number of workers in other age groups. Because of the appeal of jobs as performing artists and professional athletes, the supply of workers in these occupations will expand, ensuring continued intense competition.

 Employment change. Wage and salary jobs in arts, entertainment, and recreation are projected to grow about 31 percent over the 2006-16 period, compared with 11 percent for all industries combined. Rising incomes, leisure time, and awareness of the health benefits of physical fitness will increase the demand for arts, entertainment, and recreation services.

Employment in fitness centers and similar establishments will grow substantially, driven by several factors. Aging baby boomers are concerned with staying healthy, physically fit, and independent, and have become the largest demographic group of health club members. The reduction of physical education programs in schools, combined with parent’s growing concern about child obesity, has rapidly increased child health club membership. Membership among young adults has also grown steadily, driven by concern about physical fitness and funded by rising incomes. The proliferation of group exercise classes and the focus on overall wellness in health clubs should also increase the demand for workers in this industry.