Sports administrator
Sports administrators help to ensure the smooth running of a sports organisation, which may range from reception work at a local sports club, to marketing or human resources at a major sports club, or even managing a Premiership football club. There are also opportunities in sports funding bodies and local authority sports development.
Sports administrators have a similar range of responsibilities to administrators in other fields, but are likely to focus on organising events and running sports facilities. Duties are also likely to include promotion of the services or their club, responding to users, and fundraising. There are often opportunities to take on higher levels of responsibility fairly quickly.
Sport has gained in political and social significance, with growing public awareness of its contribution to personal health, community development and the national economy. As a result, there is increasing demand for higher quality and more diverse provision, and staff are expected to possess a wide range of personal skills and attributes.
Specific responsibilities vary considerably according to the level of the post, the employing organisation and its context. Duties range from routine administration to managing complex projects, budgets and resources. The work frequently addresses regional, national, political and ethical agendas.
Typical work activities might include any combination of the following:
Although this area is open to all graduates and Diplomates, the following subjects may increase your chances:
Sport England provides a list of undergraduate and postgraduate courses that are particularly relevant to this career area.
lomates and foudation degree graduates would need to demonstrate high-level skills and motivation in order to compete with honours degree graduates. Entry without a degree or HND/foundation degree is sometimes possible, dependent on relevant experience and vocational or sports-specific qualifications.
A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed, although students who have not studied business or management modules could increase their chances with a postgraduate or professional qualification in this field.
Pre-entry administrative experience is essential and may compensate for lack of formal qualifications. Sporting ability is not a pre-requisite, but evidence of an interest in sport, such as a sports leader award or coaching badges, may be advantageous. Specific areas of expertise such as media, events organisation, IT, marketing or human resources, can significantly improve chances of career progression and a higher salary.
The skills required depend on the nature of the employer. For example, in a national sports club there will be an emphasis on commerical awareness, marketing and promotion, while in the public sector there will be added responsibilities related to funding and policy. In general, however, candidates need to show evidence of the following:
Knowledge of the locality where the job is based can also be useful.
Competition is very intense, so making contacts and networking from an early stage is essential. Be prepared to gain experience through voluntary work and relevant university activities, and consider writing speculatively to employers. The SportBusiness Marketplace Directory is a good source of contact information.
Useful information on career pathways in sport, including case studies, is available from U-Explore .
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
In order for the UK's sport and recreation sector to remain successful at home and abroad, it needs highly skilled and well-qualified people to create a motivated, effective and innovative workforce. In light of this, some of the larger organisations have now developed graduate training schemes.
Other than graduate training schemes, much of the training tends to be on the job and varies according to the role; some sports administrators attend IT training and workshops on relevant legislation, or courses to develop professional skills and organisational abilities, such as chairing meetings, influencing and negotiating, event management and time management.
The Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA) maintains updated directories of training options - see their website for further details.
Courses to enhance effectiveness and aid future career development include part-time options such as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) or programmes in finance or marketing. Postgraduate or professional courses in management or business administration are another option.
A variety of courses exist to cover specific areas of sports administration. For example, Goodform run one-day 'Introduction to Sales and Marketing in Sport' courses aimed at students and graduates and those looking to start a career in the commercial world of sport. For those involved in club management, the Club Managers Association of Europe offers workshops, seminars and a Diploma course.
Mentoring is evolving in some governing bodies, and can be an excellent tool for personal and career development.
Visits to relevant organisations and attendance at conferences are also excellent ways of developing knowledge and useful contacts.
Opportunities for promotion depend on the size and nature of your employing organisation. If you start at a support/secretarial level, you may move to a higher-level sports administrator role, then potentially to a managerial position. (This route is more likely in a smaller organisation.) You could move up to be in charge of a team, to become a development officer or manager, or even managing director. The Chief Executives of major UK sporting bodies often arrived via a career in sports administration. For higher-level positions in larger organisations, experienced staff with a specialist background may be recruited. Progression within the sector may require a move to another organisation.
You may find career development opportunities through voluntary work or your own leisure-time activities, where you can develop additional relevant skills and gain necessary practical experience.
Experience gained as a sports administrator often provides a good entry point for a future career in other aspects of sport or related areas (e.g., corporate sponsorship, media planning or health promotion) as it allows you to develop your knowledge, make good contacts and gain an insight into related fields. Employees seeking higher salaries may move out of sports administration into other professions.
'Sport' is a broad term, referring to all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental wellbeing, forming social relationships or competing at a variety of levels. It is also a growth sector - lottery funding and government initiatives for the development of sport in the UK have led to an increase in employment opportunities in many sports associations and governing bodies, at local, regional and national levels.
Sports administration roles are often based in professional or amateur sports clubs, which vary hugely in size. Administrators are also employed in national bodies for the promotion of sport, such as Sport England , and bodies responsible for the governing of a particular sport, like the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) or the Football Association (FA) . Or they may be involved in running local leisure clubs, health spas or school and university sports facilities.
Sport is increasingly a government policy priority for reducing obesity and promoting healthy lifestyles, and there are opportunities in central government, local authorities and leisure centres. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is the government department responsible for encouraging wider participation in sport, and there are many other bodies, such as the Big Lottery Fund, that support much of the sporting activity in Britain today. The five Sports Councils (UK Sport , Sport England , Sport Northern Ireland , Sport Scotland , Sports Council Wales ) are funded by the government; they distribute lottery funding and employ sports administrators and researchers, and Sport England has set up the County Sports Partnership Network , which delivers coach, club and volunteer development and facilities, works with children and young people, shapes local policy and liaises with governing bodies.
The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London are expected to employ around 100,000 people - including 3,000 staff, and thousands of volunteers and contractors. Information, jobs and volunteering opportunities can be found at London 2012 (follow the link to 'get involved'), and there is also a work experience programme.
Sport is becoming increasingly used as a means of community development and social inclusion, and there may be opportunities to move into a career in the charitable or community sector. In this case, experience such as working with minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities or young people will be very valuable. There may also be opportunities in international development organisatons or non-governmental organisations providing voluntary projects overseas, such as sports coaching.
International opportunities exist for representing sports clients, and in branding, sponsorship, sales or consumer products licensing.
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