2 answers
Peter
Student
Hoboken, New Jersey
1
Question
Asked
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What is good advice for beginning in sports management?#Spring25
#Spring25 Looking forward to beginning on the road to sports management with football or soccer organizations.
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2 answers
Guille Esquivel
Athlete Manager
10
Answers
Inglewood, California
Updated
Guille’s Answer
Aim to get an internship with college sports teams or local professional teams. The sport itself doesn't matter; what counts is the experience and connections you gain. This will also help you figure out which department you find most interesting.
David Ludwick
Business Owner
67
Answers
Huntington Beach, California
Updated
David’s Answer
Hi Peter
That's awesome! Starting a career in sports management—especially with a focus on football or soccer—can be incredibly exciting and rewarding. Here’s some good advice to kick off your journey strong:
1. **Get Educated in Sports Management**
- **Pursue a degree or certification** in Sports Management, Business, Marketing, or related fields. These give you foundational knowledge in:
- Event management
- Sports marketing
- Athlete representation
- Operations & facility management
> If you're still in high school or early college, look into programs with strong connections to professional or collegiate sports teams.
2. **Specialize Early**
Since you're interested in football/soccer:
- Follow **clubs**, **leagues**, and **organizations** (MLS, USL, UEFA, FIFA, Premier League, etc.).
- Understand how their operations, marketing, and fan engagement work.
- Choose electives or projects focused on soccer business models or fan behavior.
3. **Get Experience—Anywhere You Can**
Start small:
- Volunteer at local clubs, tournaments, or youth leagues.
- Intern with local teams (even unpaid at first).
- Look for entry-level jobs in ticketing, community outreach, or event operations.
> The key is building connections and understanding the flow of a sports organization.
4. **Network Like Crazy**
- Connect with sports professionals on LinkedIn (team managers, event coordinators, etc.).
- Attend sports business conferences, career fairs, and webinars.
- Join groups like:
- **NASSM** (North American Society for Sport Management)
- **WISPA** (if you're a woman in sports)
- **LinkedIn groups** on soccer business & management
5. **Stay Informed**
Follow industry trends and news:
- Podcasts: *The Football Business Podcast*, *Leaders in Sport*, *Sports Business Journal*.
- Read about club ownership, marketing strategies, and fan engagement.
6. **Develop Transferable Skills**
- Project management
- Social media and content creation
- Data analysis (for fan engagement, performance, or operations)
- Communication & negotiation
7. **Start a Project or Side Hustle**
- Create a blog or YouTube channel analyzing football clubs from a management or marketing lens.
- Help a local club build its social media presence.
- Organize a small event or fundraiser around the sport.
> These kinds of self-starter moves *really* make you stand out when applying to internships or jobs.
If you're already in school or thinking about internships, I’d be happy to help you find opportunities or polish your resume to match the sports management field.
That's awesome! Starting a career in sports management—especially with a focus on football or soccer—can be incredibly exciting and rewarding. Here’s some good advice to kick off your journey strong:
1. **Get Educated in Sports Management**
- **Pursue a degree or certification** in Sports Management, Business, Marketing, or related fields. These give you foundational knowledge in:
- Event management
- Sports marketing
- Athlete representation
- Operations & facility management
> If you're still in high school or early college, look into programs with strong connections to professional or collegiate sports teams.
2. **Specialize Early**
Since you're interested in football/soccer:
- Follow **clubs**, **leagues**, and **organizations** (MLS, USL, UEFA, FIFA, Premier League, etc.).
- Understand how their operations, marketing, and fan engagement work.
- Choose electives or projects focused on soccer business models or fan behavior.
3. **Get Experience—Anywhere You Can**
Start small:
- Volunteer at local clubs, tournaments, or youth leagues.
- Intern with local teams (even unpaid at first).
- Look for entry-level jobs in ticketing, community outreach, or event operations.
> The key is building connections and understanding the flow of a sports organization.
4. **Network Like Crazy**
- Connect with sports professionals on LinkedIn (team managers, event coordinators, etc.).
- Attend sports business conferences, career fairs, and webinars.
- Join groups like:
- **NASSM** (North American Society for Sport Management)
- **WISPA** (if you're a woman in sports)
- **LinkedIn groups** on soccer business & management
5. **Stay Informed**
Follow industry trends and news:
- Podcasts: *The Football Business Podcast*, *Leaders in Sport*, *Sports Business Journal*.
- Read about club ownership, marketing strategies, and fan engagement.
6. **Develop Transferable Skills**
- Project management
- Social media and content creation
- Data analysis (for fan engagement, performance, or operations)
- Communication & negotiation
7. **Start a Project or Side Hustle**
- Create a blog or YouTube channel analyzing football clubs from a management or marketing lens.
- Help a local club build its social media presence.
- Organize a small event or fundraiser around the sport.
> These kinds of self-starter moves *really* make you stand out when applying to internships or jobs.
If you're already in school or thinking about internships, I’d be happy to help you find opportunities or polish your resume to match the sports management field.