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What steps do i need to take to get hired by the MLB or NFL after graduating from my Sports Management Degree ?
I am going to GCU for Sports and Entertainment Management. My dream is to be a general manger of a MLB or NFL team. I know you need experience so i would love to learn how i can gain this experience without being a former player.
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Mary Ann’s Answer
Hello Joseph,
As you are in Phoenix, AZ, a likely place for you to start would be the Cactus League for baseball. There may be summer internships available or there may be a roll you can play in the offices of AAA ball clubs. This is where you can get some experience learning how a team is managed. What's involved? Who's involved in the different kinds of decisions? In addition, this gives you access to people who have been working in baseball and they can help guide you. And, you can see what the different jobs are and determine what is of greatest interest to you.
In addition, you can ask your Sports and Entertainment Management instructors for advice. Often, people who teach in a certain field have contacts in that industry.
It doesn't look like your school has a football or baseball team, but if they do, you can look to see if there's a job with one of those teams. It gets you some experience and schools generally like to hire students for this.
Lastly, I'll share the story of a friend of mine. She was a scorekeeper for her daughter's softball team. She did this for years. Then, one day, one of the other parents said to her, "I have a friend that works for MLB and is looking for part-time scorekeepers for the A's and the Giants, would you be interested?" (we live in the SF Bay Area). She thought it would be great to earn a little extra money and said she would be interested. Well, fast-forward to today. She's been a MLB scorekeeper for about 20 years now. It's still technically part-time as she has kept her day job. But she is one of 3 scorekeepers for the games she works. She only works nights and weekends, but she really enjoys it.
So, you never know where the opportunity might arise. If there's an opportunity to work with a baseball or football team locally, give it a shot. It will definitely get you experience and set you up for the next job. And, you never know who might refer you to something else on your path to becoming a GM.
Goodluck!
As you are in Phoenix, AZ, a likely place for you to start would be the Cactus League for baseball. There may be summer internships available or there may be a roll you can play in the offices of AAA ball clubs. This is where you can get some experience learning how a team is managed. What's involved? Who's involved in the different kinds of decisions? In addition, this gives you access to people who have been working in baseball and they can help guide you. And, you can see what the different jobs are and determine what is of greatest interest to you.
In addition, you can ask your Sports and Entertainment Management instructors for advice. Often, people who teach in a certain field have contacts in that industry.
It doesn't look like your school has a football or baseball team, but if they do, you can look to see if there's a job with one of those teams. It gets you some experience and schools generally like to hire students for this.
Lastly, I'll share the story of a friend of mine. She was a scorekeeper for her daughter's softball team. She did this for years. Then, one day, one of the other parents said to her, "I have a friend that works for MLB and is looking for part-time scorekeepers for the A's and the Giants, would you be interested?" (we live in the SF Bay Area). She thought it would be great to earn a little extra money and said she would be interested. Well, fast-forward to today. She's been a MLB scorekeeper for about 20 years now. It's still technically part-time as she has kept her day job. But she is one of 3 scorekeepers for the games she works. She only works nights and weekends, but she really enjoys it.
So, you never know where the opportunity might arise. If there's an opportunity to work with a baseball or football team locally, give it a shot. It will definitely get you experience and set you up for the next job. And, you never know who might refer you to something else on your path to becoming a GM.
Goodluck!
Updated
Kate’s Answer
During school, spend your free time with people who have sports-related careers. Shadow them and volunteer whenever possible. This hands-on experience and networking can help you decide what you want to do and where. Look for internships in your field to meet people and learn about the job you want. Focus less on whether these internships are paid and more on the experience you can gain to help you land a job after graduation. Start networking and exploring job options before you finish your degree.