Careers in Sports Management

The recent hype in the sports industry has induced every Indian to give his/her hidden talent a serious thought. Whether it is the Indian Premier League (IPL) or the Commonwealth Games, this talented and gifted field called sports has raised the need for trained professionals manifold over the last few years, or recent months to be precise. Today, sports is not just confined to cricket, tennis, or hockey in India, but encloses various other international and domestic sports, such as football, golf, athletics, badminton, shooting, archery, and other games. With name, fame and glamour reaching every nook n corner of sport, requirement for professional sports management companies, too, has increased. Plus, individuals who’ve always been fascinated by the idea of working at high-profile jobs, sports management could just be the start. The excitement, thrill, and enjoyment that sports management includes are comparable to none of the umpteen career options available. But what exactly is sports management? The study of planning, supervising, and organizing different sporting activities is called sports management. Sports managers are required at college sports, recreational sports, sports marketing, front office system in professional sports, facility management, sports finance, event management, sports economics, and sports information. If you have that passion and obsession in sports and love to mingle business with pleasure, pursuing a career in sports management would be perfect.

Course Details
Although no specific course is required to enter sports management, but the increasing popularity of sports has triggered the launch of different courses at various study levels in colleges and universities. A management course can be pursued in sports industry after completing graduation, such as PGDM. Though a candidate from any stream can take up studies in sports management, but graduates in physical education are preferred. Sports management is a diverse term that encompasses sports and finance, social and ethical relevance of sports management, sponsorship and broadcasting, communication with the media and press, knowledge about sports law on contracts and drug use, and sports ethics and sports organization. With this creative and lucrative course covering varied subjects on different aspects of sports and related fields, sports management has sure raised eyebrows, in terms of generating job opportunities and prospective career options.

Career Prospects
Not all careers in sports management may seem to be as glamorous as a professional athlete. But nevertheless, different positions in this high-profile industry can let one enjoy and earn equal recognition. To start off with, one can work as a coach in gymnasium, sports and fitness centre, sports club, schools, and colleges. With adequate experience, one can explore various other opportunities in sports management, such as athletic director, trainer, recruiter and scout. Being a diverse field, some other productive and suitable jobs to look for in sports management include compliance director, sports information director, agent, and sports marketer. Organizations like Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are always in search of professionals with sponsorship leveraging, evaluation, media planning, merchandising, finance, corporate event sponsorship management, and infrastructure management.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
The increasing craze of sports in India has led to the establishment of degree, diploma and certificate courses in sports management. Some leading and esteemed colleges and universities are: Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Science, New Delhi; Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu; Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM), Kolkata; Amity School of Physical Studies and Sports Sciences, Noida; Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala; International Institute of Sports Management, Mumbai; and Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education, Gwalior.

Remuneration
This new-concept industry is largely driven by global broadcast media. As such, the pay packages differ according to the organization profile and nature of work. Beginning with fresh graduates, remuneration ranges from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month. As one gains industrial experience, salaries can shoot up to as high as Rs. 4 lakhs per annum.