Working in sport
If you want to work in sport, it is worth taking the time to look at the sector and understand who does what, where and when.
You will need to consider the organisations and roles that currently exist (and may exist in the future) match them to your values, motivation and skill set and finally put a plan in place to realise your ambition.
The examples that follow illustrate the diversity of jobs undertaken in a variety of settings, from the football club, to work in the community and within the media.
Spotlight On: Sports and Exercise Science
We invited four professionals to talk to you about their roles in sports and exercise science:
- Theo Bampouras, Researcher, Senior Lecturer, Coach and BASES Committee Member
- Joe Agu, Director of Nutrition Coaching
- Joe Payne, Sales Specialist within the NHS and private sector
- James Darling, Strength and Conditioning Coach
Login to SharePoint to watch a recording of this event
- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
Working at a football club
Examples of roles at a football club
| Media | Community | Science | Corporate Services |
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events manager
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sponsorship
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product licensing
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mobile and content
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broadcasting
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finance
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marketing
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legal
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human resources
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facilities management
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Outside of professional or elite sport there are plenty of organisations and roles connected to sport. For example, if we look at the reach of Sport England you can see how sport works on many levels from increasing sport participation amongst the public, improving health and wellbeing and supporting elite talent. Examples of jobs are listed under the descriptors below.
From helping to prevent and manage medical conditions to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, the benefits of sport and activity on a person's physical wellbeing are profound.
- health mentor
- psychological wellbeing practitioner
- health and wellbeing coach
- public health consultant
- health and wellbeing advisor
Evidence clearly shows that being active improves educational behaviour and attainment, through greater self-esteem, confidence and direct cognitive benefits.
- disability sports participation officer
- student engagement coordinator
- club participation officer
- community sport officer
Physical activity can reduce stress and anxiety, with the mastering of new skills often increasing confidence and self-esteem.
- fitness and wellbeing advisor
- activity professional
- occupational health worker
- psychological wellbeing practitioner
Social and community development
Promoting social trust, reducing isolation, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together, volunteering and social engagement, helping communities to integrate.
- rugby league development officer
- Sky Blues into the community - coach (Coventry City)
- leisure and wellness co-ordinator
- community activator
- community project officer (Scottish FA)
- sports project co-ordinator
- community sports officer
- sport tourism
- sports policy, programme and projects officer
- sports development officer
- health educator - diabetes
- public health improvement officer
There are a variety of roles, diverse businesses and organisations that operate in the sports media space. The job examples below are not comprehensive, but an illustration of what is currently operating in this space.
Technology
- engineer
- technology lead
- data engineer
- data scientist
- product manager
- designer
- software developer
Sport journalism
- digital
- print
- broadcast
- content editor
- journalist
- writer
- reporter
- social media
- celebrity reporter
Betting and gaming
- trading
- marketing analytics
- product development
- IT and technical
Social media
- account executive
- account manager
- digital account manager
- programmatic analyst
- advertising technology manager
- audience data analyst
- media planning
- commercial web developer
Broadcasting
- software engineer
- java developer
- football systems operator
- content insight analyst
- digital content maker
- video producer
Esports
- British Esports Association
- admin/referee
- agent
- broadcast and production
- shoutcaster/host
- coach/analyst
- community manager
- event manager
- journalist/content creator
- observer
- organisational manager
- public relations/marketing
- pro gamer
- product manager
- recruitment/human resources
- sales