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Sporting
Chance
This
summer the world's gone sport mad. It's official!
Still
feeling remarkably generous (although a little disappointed)
about the World Cup, making all the runs in cricket and now
with the two weeks of Wimbledon to take our attention the
country truly has a one track mind.
But what
if you have a one-track mind all year round? If you love sport,
watching it or playing it, then why not look at working in
it? There a wide variety of jobs in the sports industry and
they aren't all practical.
Here's
the Brilliant Careers Top Ten of Sports Jobs, counting down
from 10 to 1.
Number
10: Footballers wife
Obviously a job only open to women and those prepared to be
in Hello! 7 days a week.
Number
9: Sports products
Why did you buy that pair of Nike Trainers? How do the? Making,
marketing and selling sports products is big business. There
are a variety of roles that you can take in this area. Here
are just a couple
- Marketing
executive
- Responsible for making sure that people find out about
your product (shoes, balls, clothes, racquets you get the
idea) in cool but also appropriate ways. You'll need to
be organised, quick off the mark, good at managing money
and liaising with people. You'll usually have to have a
degree too, perhaps in Sport and Leisure Management or in
Business.
- Shop
manager
- A whole shop full of sports products all for me me me!!!
Sorry. Managing a sports shop isn't just about getting the
right amounts and kinds of sports equipment in and devising
new promotions and marketing for the shop. Ensuring that
customers buy the right kind of shoes or clothing for their
needs is a really important part of the job. Skills required
include being good with people, managing money and staff,
being well organised and knowledgeable about the latest
technology in sports equipment. Work your way up from assistant
level.
- Design
-You're the person who decides that football boots will
look better in brown than black or recommends the use of
new breathable plastics for aerobics wear. A design degree
is a must, either Product Design or perhaps Fashion Design
with a specialism in fashion wear.
Number
8: Lifeguard/Pool Attendant
This is the classic summer job, but you can take it further
if you want. It's not just about sitting on the side of the
pool looking stern and occasionally blowing your whistle.
You are responsible for the safety of all the swimmers and
you might also give lessons if you are qualified. At the very
least you need The Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallion
plus you need to be responsible and fit!
Number
7: Outdoor Pursuits Instructor
If climbing, skiing, sailing, hill-walking etc. are your thing
then this is the job for you. Instructors plan activities
for groups and individuals, usually working from outward bound
centres or specialist centres e.g. dive centres. You will
be instructing people on safety and carrying out first aid
as well as making sure that everyone has the right equipment
and a good time! You'll need patience, enthusiasm and a responsible
attitude, as well as fitness. You should have the recognised
qualification for your sport too, for instance to be a diving
instructor you need the PADI Open Water Diver certification.
This is one job you can take all round the world too. Check
out the PADI
site for more information - www.padi.co.uk
Number
6: Forces Fitness Instructor
Fancy yourself as a hard case? Or want to do something really
meaningful and challenging with your sport? All the forces
need fitness instructors and you'll be putting all ranks through
their paces organising recreational events as well as expeditions
and survival training. Not a job for wimps. Obviously you'll
have to be fit and able to motivate people. If you want to
become a PT instructor you will go through a 26 week course
on joining up and you won't have to have and particular academic
qualifications although it would be good to have GCSEs.
Number
5: Fitness instructor
Bitch or best Friend, a fitness instructor is the task master
that makes you sweat! Get your kicks by making middle aged
women high kick or gently encourage your client to push themselves
that extra mile on the treadmill. You could be devising programs
for private clients or running classes. Often you will be
working as a freelancer, responsible for getting yourself
jobs by visiting gyms, so you'll be in charge of your own
time. You should be enthusiastic and tactful above all! There
are a variety of courses which will enable you to build up
a load of different skills and training methods to pass to
your clients from Aerobics to Weight Resistance, Spinning
and Pilates. Check out the YMCA site for more information
http://www.theymca.org.uk/fitness_qualifications.htm
Number
4: Sports Centre management
Ensuring that the best instructors are hired, classes run
on time, all the members of the centre feel safe, encouraged
and have a good time when they are with you and making sure
that the centre makes money - these are just some of the things
you'll be doing on a daily basis in this role. Usually you
will have a degree or HND in leisure management and you'll
probably have been a fitness instructor or had other experience
in the management of gyms and sports centres before you get
to this elevated position.
Number
3: Agent
Who do you think negotiates million pound football transfer
deals? The players? Nope, it's their agents. Sports agents
are the hidden power in sport and you can be an agent for
any kind of sportsman from golfers to surfers. You manage
advertising, sponsorship, promotion, media appearances, speaking
engagements, interviews, writing contracts and personal appearances
for your client. There isn't an existing qualification but
if you are going to represent your client properly you will
need to be tactful, have an eye for a deal, understand legal
documents and be ready to protect your client's interests
at all times - would you dress up Tim Henman in a teddy bear
suit?… Check out this article for more detail http://www.cpa.ed.ac.uk/edit1/08/articles/01.html
Number
2: Coach
The work of the coach consists of working with the teams and
individual sportspeople so that they are at peak fitness both
mentally and physically at the right time. Devising training
and diet programmes and keeping new ways of working that will
shake them up and push them that little bit further. How do
you make a bobsleigh team run 1 second faster? You'll have
to have a real understanding of the chosen sport, know when
to encourage and when to criticise and how to do that. You'll
need experience in the sport you choose to coach in and a
professional qualification. Check out the following which
are just some of the organisations that accredit coaching
Or search
on the web for your sport combined with "coaching"
e.g."hockey coaching"
Number
1: Sports professionals
Let's be honest. Very few people are going to be able to do
this and you'll have to start as an amateur, who won't get paid,
anyway. You'll have to be really good at your chosen sport and
have the dedication to train most days of the week, keep up
your fitness and be prepared to travel all over the country
as well as all over the world. Most people start playing either
for their school or training and competing with a local association
or club and are then spotted and invited to tryout for teams
at county level. Talent scouts will be on the look out for the
stars of the future, you just have to be dedicated and be the
best!
by
James Richards.
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