Sports Management & Administration in the Organization

Abstract

The paper presents the research of the profession Sports Management and Administration. Sports Management and Administration is not only a business profession, but it has many outlets and routes for the degree. This study is for the individual to further research the interest of future professions, regardless of the seniority of the individual. The purposes are for the course, to make the individual better understand their aspirations after college (to ensure the right degree plan), and to allow the individual to better understand the career path they have predestined themselves. With this research, I am pleased to say the outcome of this research has given me a better perspective on my plans and career goals.

What is Sports Management and Administration?

Sports management engage in strategic planning, manage large numbers of human resources, deal with broadcasting contracts worth billions of dollars, manage the welfare of elite athletes, national sports organizations, government agencies, media corporations, sponsors and community organizations. (Hoye, 2009) Sports managers are usually found working with professional teams, their parent program (ie. NBA, MLB, NFL), colleges and universities, recreational departments, and sports marketing firms. They can be event managers, facility managers, sports economists, financial, promotion, or information experts. (Bogle, 2016) There are a variety of different types of sports managers, but all sports managers have the same goal: to successfully monitor, promote, and communicate with the diverse community that the administration works with.

History

In the mid-1980s, sport management programs were proliferating throughout North America. In 1985, the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) was formed.8 NASSM's mission is to promote and encourage research and advancement in the area of sport management. (2018) Two movements were occurring simultaneously: (a) Academics from the U.S. and Canada were creating the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), whose purposes would be to host an annual conference and publish a scholarly journal, and (b) the National Association for Sport & Physical Education (NASPE), one of five national associations that comprised the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD*), was exploring the idea of providing curricular guidance to existing and emerging sport management programs. (COSMA)

Job and Salary

In the field of sports management, there are a variety of outlets to choose from as a career. These jobs include promotions manager, special events coordinator, athletic director, marketing assistant- just to name a few. Sports management focuses on the business side of sports and recreation, including facility management, promotions and marketing, and event management. 2020) Sports managers' job duties may vary depending on the level of sport they oversee. For example, a high school sports manager will likely not have as many duties and responsibilities as a sports manager for a professional sports organization. These managers may help manage an entire team or organization, but their primary duty is to handle the business side of the sport so that athletes and coaches can focus on competing. (2020) 

This may require sports managers to perform such duties as:

• Creating and organizing schedules
• Promoting clients through various forms of media
• Seeking endorsement deals
• Handling and negotiating contracts
• Maintaining positive public relations
• Ensuring compliance with rules and policies

 

The average annual salary for sports management jobs is $66,000 per year. However, the average salary can vary greatly based on the kind of sports management job you have. If your job is with large industries like professional teams and popular sports, you can expect the average annual salary to be higher, around $90,000 per year. Some sports managers work for individual athletes in smaller fields, so they make less. The amount of education you have, the experience you have, and the location where you’re working will also largely impact how much money you can earn in this position. 

Education, Qualifications, & Skill Requirements

Sports managers require at least a bachelor's degree. However, if you are wanting to work at the professional level, the minimum requirement is a master's degree. The level of the degree depends on the specific career path the individual is aspiring to pursue. Ideal majors to enroll in for this profession is sports management, marketing, business administration, or sports medicine.

This skill sets that are required for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Financial Management
• Sports Marketing
• Governance
• Delegation
• Task Analysis
• Communication
• Organization
• Networking

 

Even though sports management is seen the same as business, the job and skills needed for the job are to a higher degree due to the demand of the business itself. Managing sports organizations at the start of the 21st century involve the application of multiple techniques and strategies evident in the majority of modern business, government, and non-profit organizations. Sports managers engage in strategic planning, manage mass numbers of human resources, deal with broadcasting, and sponsor/community organizations. 

Education Planning

On this career path that I have chosen, I will continue to pursue my master's degree after achieving my bachelor's in kinesiology. I have already completed most classes needed for my degree plan and getting my masters with a concentration in administration will allow me to have multiple outlets for the job that I want to pursue. I want to be as prepared as possible for my future- since every day is changing and the world needs better leaders.

The way that I think is best for the career path route I want to go, which is to work with sport broadcasting companies, I will pursue my passions in dance first. I want to be a professional dancer for a pro team: Rockets Power Dancers, Dallas Ice Girls, Houston Texans Cheerleader, or a Dalla Cowboy’s Cheerleader. From there, I will make connections and network my way into the system. I think getting to know the program through my passions and talking to the right people will allow me to be able to multitask the things that I’m most interested in. After that, since the company will know my face, my name, and my work ethic,

If that plan does not work, I will work for my alma matter, Aldine ISD. I will pursue to become the (First Female) Head Athletic Director over all of Aldine ISD and start to implement some beliefs and teaching of my degree. I will want to improve and assist the health/physical education program for the district, and well as start enforcing new policies for the education of physical activity and sports overall.

Related Fields

Although sports management and administration are considered two different degrees, many believe they are the same. Though, not to worry, here are some related fields for the degree. 

• Athletic Director
• Sports Executive
•  Media Relations Director
• Guest Services Manager
• General Manager
• Advertising Sales Director
• Facilities Director
• Accounting or Finance Manager

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, from the information I have gathered, I would still like to pursue this career path. Like I have stated in my initial introduction video, I enjoy networking, making an impact, and learning more about the diversity in the community. With the information that I have found about the career I want to pursue, it has allowed me to better understand, in-depth, what I am signing up for before I continue into graduate school. The opportunity of writing, reading, and learning the multiple outlets that the degree itself has, has given me a better perspective of the options that I can choose with the degree I want to pursue. If one plan does not work, why not have a diverse degree to allow me to choose another route?

References

• Watt, D. C. (2003). Sports Management and Administration: Vol. 2nd ed. Routledge.
• Wilson, R., & Piekarz, M. (2015). Sport Management. [electronic resource]. Taylor and Francis.
• Hoye, R., Nicholson, M., Westerbeek, H., Smith, A., & Stewart, B. (2009). Sport management: Principles and applications. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
• Swayne, L. E., & Dodds, M. (2011). Encyclopedia of sports management and marketing (Vol. 1, 3 vols.). Sage Publications.
• Emery, P. (2011). The sports management toolkit. [electronic resource]. Routledge.
• Bogle, S. (2016, July 5). What is Sports Management? Retrieved June 21, 2020, from https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/2016/07/what-is-sports-management
• Western Governors University. (2020, February 11). Sports Management Job Description And Salary. Retrieved June 21, 2020, from https://www.wgu.edu/blog/sports-management-job-description-salary2002.html
• Sports Management Career Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://www.gmercyu.edu/academics/learn/sports-management-careers
• Vtl-Admin. (2020, January 07). Sports Administration vs Sport Management – Which Degree is Right for You? Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://online.uc.edu/sport-administration-vs-sport-management-which-degree-is-right-for-you/
• History. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://www.cosmaweb.org/history.html
• The History of Sport Management: University of Kansas. (2018). Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://onlinesportmanagement.ku.edu/community/history-of-sport-management

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