Management plays a vital role in Sports as the Sports domain is the most dynamic one and is progressing with time and technological innovations. The face of conventional sports like Football, cricket, hockey, etc is evolving. On top of this, non-conventional sports like spin-offs, e-sports, and adventure sports are also gaining popularity. Consequently, Management in Sports is an inevitable entity, and its role is not limited to promoting any sports event, but, to proliferating the economic and the brand value of the Sports and the sportsperson as well. Management in sports is similar to the concept of project managers in various organizations.
Firstly, let us understand what sports and management are, and then the synergy concept- Management in sports.
Management
Management, just like sports, is a generic term. In a nutshell, management can be defined as a chieftainship wherein planning, Organizing, steering a team, etc are the major functions. For example, in companies, the management works towards the goal of the economic welfare of the company and the employees as well.
Sports
Sport is a generic term. It has many meanings and depends on the context of usage. It can be explained like
- Sports activities or sports education are mainly Physical development activities and games.
- Interactive of individuals and groups. Here, the concept of team and teamwork, as used and applied in multiple domains can be viewed as a Sport. This is more like a social phenomenon.
Now, you can well gather how Management plays a vital role in Sports. Let us look into this in detail and understand the aspects attached to management in Sports.
Management in Sports- Management plays a vital role in Sports
Management of Sports is a new yet rational approach wherein a Sports manager plans, organizes, manages, leads a team, evaluates, directs, and controls all the activities related to sports and sports business. The professionalization of the Sports business resulted in management playing a vital role in this domain. This scientific approach to the sports domain started in the 1980s. A Sports manager performs the above functions as a coach for individual athletes, and as a sports scientist for sports organizations as well.
Yes, now it is clear that management plays a vital role in sports, but how is the next big question. How does management help the sports domain? Let us have a snake-peak into that.
How Management plays a vital role in Sports
There is always a lack of human capital in the sports sector. This is particularly depicted for Sports managers and related leadership posts. Entertainment domain, Corporates, and other big organizations are showing more interest in investing in the sports sector. So, to steer this domain to success, leaders with top skills in management are mandatory. Some of the major roles of Management in sports are:
Decision-Making:
No working domain is free from decision-making. Management in Sports plays a vital role in making decisions that may alter the team as well as the organization they work for. So, this is one of the major areas where management skills help in the sports domain.
Data Analysis:
The sports domain is dynamic and the past and the present affect the future. In simpler terms, in the case of an athlete, his/her past stats and details of performance affect their present and future as well. Once again, management skills can be applied in this area of interest to uplift an athlete to success. Another important sphere is the budget wherein the data can be reviewed for the efficient usage of monetary and other resources.
Negotiation:
The sports arena is full of deals and negotiations. Sports Managers make deals with athletes, equipment, concessions, uniforms, etc. On top of that, they do not want to pay more to athletes, nor want them to slip away. So, eloquence is one of the major skills Sports managers employ to negotiate.
Accounting and Budgeting:
Money is an important aspect of the sports business, as it is in any other business. Proper management of finance is one of the key factors that determine the success of a sports organization. An efficient management team can put their money resources to proper uses, ensure that the team has all the resources to compete, and so on.
Innovation: Management Plays a vital role in Sports
The world itself is looking for and thriving on innovations. So, why not the sports domain? Management plays a vital role in sports by using analytics to measure the caliber of a player. It, in turn, helps to improve the performance and multiply the brand value of the whole team as well. New improved ways plus psychology, and diet are a few of the innovations that the management in sports employ to build their team strength.
Let us now look into the major skills of sports managers or in general any management professional in the Sports domain.
Skills needed for management in Sports
Management professionals in Sports require to possess and polish over time, the skills listed below:
- Interpersonal skills to build relations and promote an athlete or a sport.
- Logical thinking to take the right and rational decisions.
- Technical skills are necessary to fulfill the requirements of any organization.
- Flexibility
- Creativity
There are many sports management courses, and if you want a career in sports management, you can apply for the bachelor’s or Master’s program in many institutes and colleges offering them.
There are many prospective career options after doing the management in Sports course, let us look into some in the list below.
A career in sports management
Health, marketing, and promotions are the main areas of interest for a sports manager. Accordingly, they can work as:
- Sports lawyer
- Sports Agent
- Event coordinator
- Athletic coach
- Fitness manager
- Contract administrator
- Operation manager
- Marketing Consultant
- Public Relations Manager
- Athletic Director, and so on.
Among the above job profiles, Sports Marketing managers and consultants are highly paid. In addition to this, Athletic Directors also are highly compensated for their skills. Knowledge of Digital tools and social media are added skills in demand. The salary range of management professionals in the sports domain is $ 35000 to $ 86000.
Let me take you through an interesting affinity between Project management and management in sports a.k.a Sports management.
Congruity between Project management and Management in Sports- Management plays a vital role in Sports
The concept related to project management and sports management is similar to the procedure followed in both like Planning, organizing, and execution. In Sports, the projects are related to the sports domain. Moreover, Management professionals in Sports and projects share the common skills to complete an event or a project successfully. Both Project management and sports management works towards the same goal. There are a few courses that combine Project management and sports management to broaden the scope of organizational skills.
You can many job listings for project managers to work for Sports-related organizations as well.
To know more about Project management courses check Henry Harvin’s PMP course.
Conclusion
The sports domain is a fluid one and has seen changes and progress in the last few years. Technological advancements and business-control functions act as a stimulus in this growth. So, manpower, as well as money power, become important entities in the Sports domain. So, managing these resources to reap the maximum benefit is in itself a tough task. Consequently, Management plays a vital role in sports and sports organizations. The skills of project management and management in sports are analogous, but there are many colleges and institutes offering sports management courses as well.
FAQ
Q 1. Are there separate sports management courses in India?
Ans: Yes, there are many sports management courses in India. National Academy of sports management, IIM Rohtak, and MIT School of Management are a few of the institutes providing MBA in Sports Management.
Q 2. Does a Sports manager help build cordial relationships among team members?
Ans: Yes, Sports managers always try to maintain the team members cordially. This is one of the reasons why Management plays a vital role in sports.
Q 3. Do the principles of project management hold in Sports management as well?
Ans: Yes, the principle of project management and sports management are the same. In general, management in sports is a kind of project management where the projects are related to sports and the sports business.
Q 4. Can I do BBA in Sports management after class 12 commerce stream?
Ans: Yes, you can do BBA in Sports Management after class 12 commerce.
Q 5. Can I study sports management at Universities abroad?
Ans: Yes, many Universities in the USA, Europe, Australia, etc offer sports management courses at UG and PG levels. You can check their websites for eligibility criteria and other details. The career scope for Sports management is huge in the USA and Europe.
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