A football team has a maximum of eleven players. A cricket team also has around eleven players who land on the ground like warriors and defend their team. But where do all the other people who aspire to join sports fit in the industry? Do they sacrifice their dream of working alongside their favorite players and teams? Does it not seem improbable? Well, it surely is! In today’s time, your passion for sports does not have to come out in the form of playing for your favorite teams. There are more enticing ways to remain associated with your favorite sport than you might know. While a lot takes place behind the scenes and off the ground, you only get to see things going on in front of you.

Fortunately, countless other jobs are available in the sports industry that don’t require you to be athletic. Depending on your skills and aptitude, you might prepare sportspeople to represent their teams on the ground later. So, today, let’s tour the world away from the playing fields and see what you can do in the sports industry other than being an athlete or a player. A list of the most in-demand and lucrative careers in the sports industry will make it easy for you to make a career and be associated with your favorite game or team.

General Manager

When striving to work in sports, you can work as a manager or general manager in the administration function. The educational requirements for becoming a general manager can vary. Nonetheless, with a relevant master’s degree, you can gain a competitive edge and land a lucrative career in sports administration. A higher degree allows you to easily establish your career in the field by instilling all the essential skills and expertise.

As a general manager, you are associated with a team and supervise their daily operations. You have to ensure everything runs smoothly; the players work on their contracts and stick to their schedules. More importantly, you have to manage the team’s contracts, coaches, and players. Often general managers are also responsible for marketing and promotion of the team and working along with the media. You might also manage finances, manage negotiations, meet vendors, and procure equipment.

In some teams, general managers also collaborate with coaches and players to recruit and train new players, dismiss players, or hire the head coach to develop a team. A general manager must be familiar with legal matters related to the team, their contracts, and penalties. What’s more, several general managers in sports have been players in the past. But this one fact must not bar you from trying your luck in this career and earning a lucrative salary of $103,650, according to May 2020 estimates of the BLS.

Umpire

Even if you can’t be the person playing on the pitch, you can still be part of the game by working as an Umpire. As an umpire, you can monitor baseball and cricket games and ensure they are played according to the rules. Any foul play, mistakes, and misunderstandings also come to the umpire for sorting out. You also ensure the game is played in the most conducive environment without aggression and abuse. Likewise, you have to decide the penalties when the team or a player breaks the rules.

So, you can work as an umpire in the baseball team after graduating from umpire schools and completing the Minor League Baseball Advanced Course. This position is undoubtedly competitive, and few tend to score for the role of an umpire. If you like challenges, here is your chance. As an umpire, you must have quick reflexes, attention to detail, and quick decision-making ability. An individual who has spent several years in this field can earn $450,000 per year. The average salary ranges from $110,000 to $432,800. So, if you succeed in this career, you won’t only stay closer to your favorite team but earn a handsome amount too.

Sports Reporter

As the title implies, a sports reporter reports about the athletes, teams, matches, and leagues in the news on television and radio. They keep the fans updated about the work-life of their favorite athletes. They also comment on the matches and analyze and forecast the performance and outcome of a team. All of this happens due to their greater knowledge about sports. Some sports reporters become celebrities themselves. They invest their time and effort in honing their understanding of the game and developing presentation skills, so much so that people prefer listening to their views over others. Hence, they are always part of expert panels and often lead and moderate discussions.

To become a sports reporter, you need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. But suppose you want to be associated with reputable sports channels and broadcasters. In that case, you must have a master’s degree in journalism. The more awareness and information you have about your field, the more attractive you become for a sports news outlet.

Marketing Manager

The job of a marketing manager is to assess and often create a demand for their products and services. They work with the sales department to make the offerings more attention-grabbing for the target audience. Marketing managers also devise pricing plans and promotional material to reach their target audience. Even in sports, marketing managers have similar jobs; the only difference is that now their product is a team, a player, or a league. They work for branding, managing the image, and promoting a player or a team.

A marketing manager in sports aims to enhance the income streams, coordinate the events, and induce interest and curiosity in fans. The most critical skill that a marketing manager needs is the art of effective communication and interpersonal skills. Other skills include creativity and analytical skills to develop and execute creative marketing and promotional campaigns. In its May 2020 estimates, the BSL states that the average salary of a marketing, promotional, and advertising manager is $141,490 per year, equating to $68.03 per hour. Furthermore, the job outlook of this career is also impressive, with an overall growth of 10% from 2020 to 2030.

Conclusion

Many of you might be ambitious to join sports. But let’s face reality: only a handful of lucky people get to become professional athletes. Both luck and hard work contribute to helping achieve these positions and a chance to represent your country, community, or region. But it is also true that not all sports are lucrative or have a professional level. But those which do can take you to the pinnacle of success. So, rest assured that this is not the end of it. There is much more to the sports industry than playing in a professional team. Many jobs in the sports industry connect you with your favorite team and sport and help you earn a handsome income. Some of these sports industry jobs are mentioned in this article as well. So, instead of losing hope after not being a professional athlete, try your luck in these jobs.