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How does one go about getting into working in the management of a professional sports team?

Interested in working in sport management, but not sure how one gets involved in the back-office of managing a team/franchise. #sports #sports-management #soccer #sport

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Brian’s Answer

Internships, Internships, Internships. Look for volunteer or internship opportunities with local teams. Be prepared to work for free. You don't become GM in a day. Everybody starts at the bottom and is willing to work very hard for little or no money.
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Zach’s Answer

I would recommend looking for different volunteer opportunities. I volunteered with my school's athletic department and took every chance I could to ask questions and show how passionate I was about working in sports. It takes time and a lot of luck but putting yourself out there and getting experience is a good place to start!
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Arun’s Answer

Sports management professionals may function as agents, managers, marketing experts or public relations specialists. Continue reading to learn more about the responsibilities, educational requirements and salaries associated with a career in professional sports management.


Sports management professionals oversee the business and promotional concerns of athletic organizations or athletes. Depending on the position, job duties can include negotiating contracts and monitoring the finances of teams and athletes. Sports management professionals may also create marketing programs, oversee ticket sales or engage in public relations activities.


Required Education: Bachelor's degree for entry level positions; most sports management professionals have a master's degree


Job Duties: Include negotiating contracts, monitoring team and athlete finances, creating marketing programs


Required Education
While there are some entry-level positions available for graduates with bachelor degrees, most sports management professionals have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a master's degree in a pertinent area of study. Students interested in entering the field should take courses in business law, marketing, finance, public relations and accounting.


Skills Required
Sports management professionals should have a strong business foundation and excellent communication skills. They also need to be good salespeople and have a firm grasp of negotiating tactics and public relations.
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Daniel’s Answer

The best way is to get a degree at a large school with a strong sports management program. The reason i say a large school is because the best way to get your foot in the door of a major sports team is to connect with an alumni of your school who has a high ranking role for said team. Some examples of schools with big programs and successful alumni are UMass Amherst and Boston University. Not only are these colleges located in the best sports city in the country also known as the city of champions, but they also have current MLB and NBA GM's that graduated from there programs. These GM's are often more likely to take interviews from students from there university. Also, they both have elite programs that if you do well will help you get your foot in the door regardless of alumni assistance.


I would look into applying to Umass it's also very affordable.
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Michael’s Answer

The first step I'd take is contacting as many professionals in the sports industry as you can to learn about their experiences - these are called informational interviews. These conversations can potentially lead to a number of things, including volunteer and internship opportunities, career advice, mentorships, and more. However, don't be discouraged if you see a lack of responses at first. Continue calling, emailing, messaging on LinkedIn, and writing hand-written letters - sometimes you've got to get creative to catch someone's attention.

While you're starting to make these connections and expand your network, I'd recommend searching for volunteer and internship opportunities on your own. To be completely honest, you should not expect to make a high salary (or any salary) when looking for these positions - the main goal is to gain valuable work experience and to find where your passion lies within the industry. Saying you want to work in sports is great, but what are you going to bring to the table? Try different things until you find the path you want to take that will make you an invaluable asset to any sports organization and become the best at that.

A few habits that will help bring you success are being reliable, consistent, professional, prepared, optimistic, creative, personable, and able to solve problems, both independently and as part of a team. Good luck and don't forget to take it one step at a time. The hard work and dedication pays off in the long run!
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