chapter
Chapter
17
17 Careers in Sport
Management
Careers in Sport
Management
Lori K. Miller and G. Clayton Stoldt
Goal of Sport Management
Professions
To provide support services, facilities, and
other amenities to make physical activity
experiences—performance as well as
spectatorship—as enjoyable as possible
Figure 17.1
The World of Sport Management
Sport managers are more involved in
the activities and job responsibilities
surrounding the actual event than they
are in the sport or activity itself.
Figure 17.2
Growth in the Sport Industry
The sport industry has grown significantly in
both variety and complexity since the 1800s.
Improved technology, greater discretionary
monies and time, flexible work assignments,
changing demographics and psychographics,
consumer needs and desires, and other
societal influences have caused the sport
industry to blossom.
Sport Management Settings
• Sport entertainment
• Sport participation
– For-profit participation segment
– Nonprofit participation segment
• Support services
– Sporting goods
– Sport services (e.g., insurance, licensing,
travel, etc.)
Up-Close Views of Professions in
Sport Management
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Event management
Financial management
Human resource management
Risk management
Marketing management
Public relations management
Program management
– Scheduling
– Facility and equipment maintenance
• Employment outlook
• Education and qualifications
Marketing Management
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Research and development
Sport promotion
Sponsorship
Advertising
Merchandising
Distribution
Sport Management Education
• Students of sport management who are educated
in the area of sport marketing often find that they
have a great deal of appeal to employers in all
sport industry segments. A background in sport
marketing, coupled with related job experience,
provides lateral as well as vertical career
opportunities.
• The Journal of Sport Management contains
content about current issues and trends in the
sport management industry.
Education and Qualifications
• NASPE-NASSM competency standards
– Bachelor’s degree
– Master’s degree
– Doctoral degree
• Internship and field experience
• The North American Society for Sport
Management supports professionals
working in the fields of sport, leisure, and
recreation.
Table 17.1
Benefits to Management
Multifaceted individuals can make
decisions that are in the best interest of the
sport organization as a whole rather than
decisions that benefit only particular
business functions of the organization.
Advice for Sport Management
Students
• Seek practical
experience.
• Seek out mentors.
• Gain communication
skills.
• Develop problemsolving skills.
• Generalize.
• Develop a strong,
diverse knowledge
base (be a lifelong
learner).
• Build a network of
sport management and
physical activity
professionals.
Some Additional Advice
• Class work
– Kinesiology
– Business
• Experience
– Classroom
– Real world (critical to preparation)
• Mentoring
– University
– Real world
Remember that the field of sport management is
diverse, so be sure to account for this in your
preparation.