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Career Research Paper

Sports/Athletics Manager

Tabitha Lavigne

Fall 2007

LeFiles

I. Job Description

            Becoming a sports/athletics manager is one of the most challenging areas to gain employment. This job consists of managing and coordinating business related activities for individual professional teams or athletes. Being a sports/athletics manager you are involved with any sport imaginable, and also with drafting college players. They work with coaches and scouts to find the best player for the position they’re looking for, they negotiate trades and sign players to professional teams.

            Sports/Athletic managers also manage the team’s budget, including salaries, and they make financial arrangements for the purchase of equipment, uniforms and traveling. Since obtaining this job is difficult, you should start with working for a high school or college team and work your way up. Gain a lot of experience before trying to go for the big leagues in this industry.

II. What Major Do You Need To Pursue?

            To pursue this job, a specialized degree in sports administration, sports management, sports communication and sports engineering may help. Many sports and athletic managers worked for a coaching position or assistant manager for a high school or college team and have worked their way up. Some also have graduate degrees in business management and are trained as attorneys.

III. What Education Is Required?

            A four year degree is required for this job (Bachelors Degree) and also a Graduate Degree (Master’s, Doctorate, or Professional Degree). Not only is a good education a factor of this job, but years of experience will also help to pursue this career, such as being a sports fan your whole life, being a part of a team or even just the water boy.

VI. Salary

            The average salary for this job usually starts at about $55,000 per year. The starting salary is $32,500 per year and with prior experience its $70,000.

V. Hours

            It’s hard to give exact hours when working this job. You will be working often, and maybe even on weekends as well if you’re traveling to games. Depending on the position you work, you’ll be working different hours.

VI. Benefits

            Some benefits to this job are that you will get to travel, if you happen to be one of the lucky managers, and also if you’re working for a professional team you’ll get to meet famous athletes. Another benefit is that you make pretty decent money even just starting off.

VII. Relocation: Where Do You Want To Live Based On This Career?

            I suppose I wouldn’t really have a choice where I lived if I pursued this career. It all depends on what team you decide to work with. If I wanted to work with the Los Angeles Lakers, my home would probably be close to L.A. On the other hand, if I wanted to work with the North Carolina Tarheels, I’d end up living in that part of the country instead. Personally, however, I want to travel, and being in this career you’d have to travel with the teams to different cities when they have away games. I would love to do that, and as far as where my home will be, I’ll just have to decide once I find a place I love. You make not get to travel in some cases, and just be working in the office most of the time. If that was the case with me, I would want to work in a big city like New York City or Los Angeles.

VIII. Working Conditions

            Most sports/athletic managers work in an office, but if they have been working with that particular business for many years, they may travel with the team. You usually work long hours, whether it is in the office, attending games or traveling, so you should have a very open schedule.

IX. Pros & Cons