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Before you decide to go down the path of trying to become a sports manager, let’s talk about the distinction between being a sports manager and a sports agent because people tend to confuse the two. While there are similarities in what the two do, the difference is that a sports manager doesn’t negotiate contracts for their clients. Instead, they focus on making sure the player has proper training, nutrition, and generally the personal attention they need to always be at their top game. If you’ve decided that this is the perfect career for you, we’ll give you a few pointers on how to become one.
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While you’re not required per se to have a formal education to become a sports manager, more than 80% of them have a bachelor’s degree in sports (management or related). This is because there is such great demand and the competition is so fierce for this field of work, so having a degree increases one’s chances of getting the job. The good thing is there are online masters in sports administration you can get, so you won’t need to physically attend a university to get a degree/certificate. You’ll also need to acquire an appropriate certification for the league in which you’ll be managing.
There are also non-educational requirements that are a must if you want to become a successful sports manager, like having great communication skills (both verbal and written), a good grasp on contracts (business and legal), understanding all the league rules, and having exceptional interpersonal skills.
As in many other career choices, however educated you are, having experience is just as, if not even more important for success. While you will definitely get it over time if you start working in the industry, it might be a good idea to try and get some management experience under your belt before you even step into official sports manager shoes. Be creative about it, you can join a local competitive team and do some management work when you’re not playing, or volunteer at a sports camp. It also might be worth a shot to try and contact a sports manager you admire and ask them if they would let you ‘shadow’ them (follow them around and see how they do their jobs) for a couple of days. It could be that great non-formal educational experience you need to have a great head start.
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The sports industry is a vibrant one, and you’re definitely heading for a great experience if you go down this path, it’s sure not to be a boring job. Just make sure you really want this kind of competitive environment at your workplace, and you’ll enjoy every day at your exciting new job.
Hopefully, we’ve provided enough information to get you started with the process of becoming a great sports manager, or help you decide if the career is right for you. We wish you luck and to have fun, maybe you’ll find and help cultivate the next great sports star.
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