Whether you were an athlete as a kid or you fell in love with the sport later in life, it’s practically everyone’s dream to work in sports. It’s thrilling, passionate, and if you find the right position, it can be quite lucrative.

Although being a professional athlete might be at the forefront of your mind when considering athletic careers, it’s not the only way to make money in sports.

There are countless behind-the-scenes jobs that help players, teams, and stadiums function.

If you want to be a part of the success of your favorite team or athlete, check out these options for how to start a career in sports.

1. Professional Athlete

To state the obvious, most everyone who dreams of a job in their favorite sport first dreams of being the star player on a successful team. It requires a lot of focus and consistent training, especially when recovering from injuries.

Scoring a career as a professional athlete may also mean you’ve scored one of the top-paying jobs involving sports. It might take time to get there, but it’s worth the effort.

There are also so many sports to get scouted for. You can find work in soccer careers, skiing careers, and golf careers, just to name a few.

2. Coach a Team

If playing as an athlete isn’t in your wheelhouse, the next option might be coaching a sports team.

Coaching is a popular path when learning how to start a career in sports because it’s easy to coach younger teams and work your way up.

3. Train the Players

Another way to get a job in the sports field is to become a personal trainer. As an athletic trainer, you’ll build and facilitate workouts for professional players and help them optimize their strength for competitions.

4. Manage the Team

Careers in sports management are also popular for those who want to be engrossed in the building of successful teams.

Becoming a general manager is like a real-life way to play fantasy football for your preferred sport, and the salary is nothing to be disappointed by.

5. Analyze the Stats

For those who want to work in sports but don’t care about being close to the action, becoming an analyst for player and team statistics is a great option.

Statistics are a significant part of sports games. They often influence how coaches plan their lineups and how fans interact with the game.

6. Be a Referee or Umpire

Referees and umpires play a huge role in competitions. They determine when fouls occur and which goals, touchdowns, and baskets count towards the final score.

 

Options in Athletic Careers

Sports organizations can’t run without employees, and you could be one of them. Whether you decide to become an athlete, a coach, or an analyst, you’ll experience all the benefits of working in professional sports.

Working in athletic careers can still require lots of effort and long hours, but it’s all worth it to be close to your favorite teams.

For more advice and guidance when finding your dream career, head over to our page.