It’s easy to get caught up in the traditional concept of sports jobs like being a coach, working in ticket sales or sponsorship, or managing a social media platform. But guess what? That only scratches the surface of possibilities in the sports industry.
Let’s get into some of the more interesting possibilities:
- Groundskeeper – Someone has to keep all those pitches and fields looking gameday-crisp. You probably never knew there were so many varieties of grass. Possible Degrees: Turfgrass Management, Biology, Chemistry.
- Mascot Performer – It’s not just for kids anymore! Think about some of your favorite sports teams and I bet you can name their friendly, furry performer. Phillie Phanatic, perhaps? Possible Degrees: Theater, Communications.
- Security – Pro athletes are celebrities and bring with them a lot of fandom and a lot of attention. Teams also travel often during their season, requiring a security guard or security detail. Possible Degrees: Criminal Justice.
- Team Chef – Professional teams, national teams, and even many college programs have their own training facilities with cafés on site. Often there is a head chef that manages the daily meals at the facility for players – catering to unique dietary requirements and understandings of elite athlete nutritional needs. Possible Degrees: Culinary Arts.
- Nutritionist – Along those lines, a team nutritionist can work with the team chef on specialized dietary needs. They can also put together performance plans for each individual player based on their physio needs and personal preferences. Possible Degrees: Registered Dietician, Exercise Science, Kinesiology.
- Massage Therapist – Ouch, those aching muscles! This is for when an ice bath alone won’t do the trick. Keeping athletes ready to play and perform is a vast team of body-related specialists who may even travel on the road with the team to away games. Possible Degrees: Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Sports Medicine.
- Psychologist – There are a variety of potential positions that fall under the heading of ‘psychology’ ranging from the mental performance coach – helping the athletes keep their mind sharp for peak performance, to sports psychologist who will generally assist players 1-on-1 with a variety of personal challenges or needs, to a high performance coach who manages the elite environment for the team. Possible Degrees: Psychology.
There are many more jobs like these that you might not think of as a “sports job” so be sure to keep an open mind about the many possibilities you can pursue for a sports industry career!
