Career Opportunities in Sports Management
When athletes engage wholeheartedly in their game, comprehensive sports management becomes essential not only within the confines of the field but also beyond it.
The global sports industry presents significant opportunities for sports management professionals, continually expanding with each passing day. By 2022, the sector had surged to become a Rs 55 lakh crore industry. Factors such as the rise of e-sports, advancements in virtual reality technology, the evolving landscape of sports consumerism, among others, have played pivotal roles in driving this remarkable growth.
📝📝What defines a sports management professional?
In today's landscape, sports teams, professional athletes, and franchises operate akin to corporations. Consequently, they enlist the expertise of management professionals to ensure efficient functioning. The need for skilled individuals extends to organizing and marketing sporting events. This paradigm shift signifies that every facet of the sports domain is now overseen by professionals. Whether it's the branding of players, clubs, or events, or the meticulous management of all components, sports management can be regarded as the effective orchestration of every element. Thus, if you harbor a passion for sports and aspire to navigate the business aspect of the industry, a career in sports management emerges as an enticing option.
✴✴✴In India:
India, as a nation, serves as a thriving hub for sports, witnessing the emergence of numerous sports leagues catering to events such as the Indian Premier League, Hockey Premier League, Indian Super League, and Pro Kabaddi League. The realm of sports in India is teeming with opportunities.
While many individuals harbouring dreams of a career in sports aspire to represent their country in national and international tournaments, the reality is that not everyone can achieve this. Consequently, many turn their attention to a field that demands a profound understanding of the game—one where professionals organize matches, manage team finances, negotiate athlete contracts, and operate behind the scenes. In essence, those equipped with a background in sports management play a pivotal role in overseeing all critical aspects of the business and governance related to the game. India stands as fertile ground for such endeavours.
🔖🔖Education:
Traditionally, individuals sought expertise in the field of sports through general management programs. However, with the proliferation of sports management courses, contemporary opportunities have expanded significantly. Despite the prevalence of specialized courses, leading management institutes continue to serve as prominent sources for recruiting talent into the sports sector.
Various educational pathways, including Certificate, Diploma, and Post Graduate Diploma/MBA programs in Sports Management, are now available, catering to the growing demand for professionals equipped with specialized knowledge in the dynamic realm of sports.
📝Study Focus Areas:
The curriculum encompasses a diverse range of subjects, including Sports Administration, Management Principles, Organizational Behavior, Sports Psychology, Sociology of Sports, Sports Economics, Sports Finance, Sports Marketing, Sponsorship and Broadcasting, Sports Science, Entrepreneurship, Communication, Sports Journalism, Public Relations, Sports Law, Quantitative Methods, Research Methodology, Sports Statistics, Project Work, Practical Training, and Development of Sports Talent.
📝Study Locations:
Renowned institutions like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and select private management institutes in India stand out as premier hubs for sports management courses. Moreover, the option to pursue sports management studies abroad is available. Whether within India or overseas, the critical factor lies in the meticulous selection of reputable institutions that offer access to robust campus recruitment opportunities. Choosing campus recruitment is widely regarded as an optimal stepping stone for initiating a successful career in management.
📝Indian Institute of Management:
IIM Rohtak offers a comprehensive sports management course. Eligible candidates should possess a bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks, and those with work experience in the sports field have an added advantage. Admission is determined through a sports aptitude test and interview. Notably, the admission process does not rely on JEE, a common entrance exam.
Additionally, IIMs such as Kolkata provide short-term courses. However, it's crucial to understand that these short-term offerings are not intended as substitutes for full-time courses.
🔖🔖Other Educational Institutions
1) All India Football Federation
Courses Offered: AIFF Master’s Programme
Duration: 13 Months
Location: Head Office – New Delhi; Campuses: New Delhi, Mumbai, and Cadiz (Spain)
Website: www.aiffmasters.com
2) Academy of Sports Sciences Research and Management
Courses Offered:
- B.SC (Hons.) Sports Science – 3 years
- Diploma Course in Sports Pharmacy – 2 years
- Diploma Course in Sports Management – 3 years
Location: Delhi
Website: https://assrm.edu.in
3) DY Patil University’s School of Management
Courses Offered: MBA in Sports Business Management (2 Years), BBA in Sports Management (3 Years - Online Course)
Location: Navi Mumbai
Website:DY Patil University (https://dypatiluniversityonline.com/bba-in-sports-management)
4)Global Institute of Sports Business
Courses Offered: GISB Post Graduate Program in Sports Management
Duration: 15 Months
Location: Mumbai
Website: www.gisbindia.com
5) Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak
Courses Offered: Executive PG Diploma in Sports Management
Duration: 2 Years
Location: Rohtak
Website:https://rohtak.gov.in
6) International Institute of Sports Management
Courses Offered:
- Bachelor of Sports Management (BSM)
- Master of Sports Management (MSM)
- PGP in Sports and Wellness Management
- PGP in Sports Event Management
Duration:
- BSM: 3 Years
- MSM: 2 Years
- PGP: 11 Months
Location: Mumbai
Website: www.iismworld.com](www.iismworld.com
7) IronWood Sports Management Global Academy
Courses Offered:
- Bachelor of Sports Management (BSM)
- Diploma in Sports Management (DSM)
- PG Diploma in Global Sports Management
- PG Diploma in Sports Management
Duration:
- BSM: 3 Years
- DSM: 3 Months
- PGD: 11 Months
Location: Mumbai
Website: www.ironwoodsports.com](www.ironwoodsports.com
8) Institute of Sports Science & Technology
Courses Offered:
- BBA (Sports Management)
- Masters Programme in Sports Management
- Masters Programme in Sports Sciences
- Masters Programme in Cricket Management
- Diploma in Sports Management
- Diploma in Sports Sciences
- Diploma in Cricket Management
- Diploma in Sports & Exercise Nutrition
Duration:
- BBA: 3 Years
- Masters: 12 Months
- Diploma: 6 Months
Location: Pune
Website: http://isst.co.in/
9) KJ Somaiya Institute of Management
Courses Offered: MBA in Sports Management
Duration: 2 Years
Location: Mumbai
Website: http://simsr.somaiya.edu/
10) MBA-ESG
Courses Offered:
- BBA in Sports Management
- MBA in Sports Management
Duration:
- BBA: 3 Years
- MBA: 2 Years
Location:
- Head Office: Bengaluru
- Campuses: Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune
Website: www.mba-esg.in](www.mba-esg.in
11) National Academy of Sports Management
Courses Offered:
- BBA in Sports Management
- MBA in Sports Management
- UG Diploma in Sports Management
- PG Diploma in Sports Management
Duration:
- BBA: 3 Years
- MBA: 2 Years
- Diploma: 1 Year
- PG Diploma: 1 Year
Location: Campuses and Associations at Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mumbai (Main Office)
Website: www.nasm.edu.in
12) Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences
Courses Offered: MBA (Sports Management)
Duration: 2 Years
Location: Pune
Website: www.ssss.edu.in
13) Western India Football Association Skillanation
Courses Offered:
- Bachelors in Sports Management
- Master of Sports Management
- Diploma in Football Management
Duration:
- Bachelors: 3 Years
- Masters: 2 Years
- Diploma: 1 Year
Location: Mumbai
Website: www.wifaskillanation.com
14) iLEAD Kolkata
Course Offered: BBA in Sports Management (4 Years)
Website: https://ilead.net.in/bba-sports-management-kolkata/
15) Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, Chennai
Course Offered: M.B.A in Sports Management (2 Years)
Website: https://www.tnpesu.org/coursesoffered.html
16) Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education Gwalior
Course Offered: MA in Sports Management (2 Years)
Website: https://www.lnipe.edu.in
🔖🔖The Sports and Management Research Institute, commonly known as SMRI, is an institution located in Kerala, specializing in various courses in the field.
Among the sports management offerings are the Certified Sports Manager, P G Diploma in Sports Management, Advanced Diploma in Sports Business, Advanced Diploma in Football Management, Advanced Diploma in Cricket Management, Executive Diploma in Sports Management, and Certified Sports Facility Manager. For further details, visit (https://smri.in/courses/).
✴Sports management courses are also available in colleges across Kerala, featuring a Bachelor of Sports Management program spanning 3 years. Some of the institutions offering this program include St. Thomas College, Palai, UC College, Aluva, and St. Joseph's College Devagiri, Calicut.
Article By: Mujeebulla K.M
CIGI Career Team