Life Beyond the Game: Alternative Career Paths
From the moment they could walk, many student-athletes have been drawn to play. Whether playing catch, throwing hoops or practicing volleys, many of their memories involve their sport–both celebrating the victories and rising up to the challenges. These passions have shaped their dreams and aspirations for years, but while many want to stay in the sports industry, not everyone wants to become a pro athlete. There’s more beyond playing, and here are seven alternative career paths to consider:
1. Sports Management
This works in the more the administrative side of sports. Think organization of team/player management, event coordination, and sports marketing. A good sports manager has great organizational skills, time management, and leadership to be able to effectively communicate, budget, and strategically plan all the administrative work.
2. Sports Journalism
Sports journalists are communicators first, and sports fans second. They report on games, write articles, and/or host programs. Former-athlete journalists offer great and experienced insights, and with some strong writing and verbal communication can explain the game better than anyone, helping viewers truly understand the sport.
3. Physical Therapy
If you like sports and science, physical therapy is the job for you. Physical therapists assist athletes/teams by improving their physical capabilities and assisting them through recoveries from injuries. This job requires more advanced education in human anatomy and physiology before even learning some hands-on therapy techniques.
4. Coaching
This is a great job where you can use all of your sports expertise to mentor, train and guide new athletes through the physical, mental, and strategic aspects of the sport. A coach, knows the sport through and through, but they also need great patience and motivational skill to deal with the athlete(s).
5. Nutritionist
You can specialize in sports nutrition and assist athletes adnd teams by creating an optimal dietary habits guide to help enhance their performance and recovery. A nutritionist is another job that required additional knowledge on its subject–nutrition and dietetics. They have great research and interpersonal skills that help them create personalized nutrition plans.
6. Sports Law
If you like reading and writing, then navigating the legal aspects within the sports industry might be your calling. Negotiating contracts, athlete representation or dealing with sports organizations are just a few of the aspects of the a sports lawyer. Any lawyer requires a higher education in law, and a sports lawyer needs not only legal expertise, but also great negotiation skills to deal with sports contracts and regulations.
7. Sports Psychology
Sports psychologists bridge the gap between the body and minds, assisting athletes/teams to optimize their performance by focusing on the overall well-being of the athlete. A sports psychologist needs deep understanding of both the psyche and sports dynamics, but more importantly, they have a greta ability to emphasize and actively listen to their athletes.
All of these alternate career paths offer student-athletes with the ability to continue working with their passion. This way former athletes can leverage their skills and experiences within the sports industry, continuing to enjoy the highs of teamwork, camaraderie, discipline, and resilience they have known after years of training and competing. Beyond these roles, the sports world offers countless other avenues and possibilities to make a positive impact in the industry. And while athletes are at the center of any sport, athletes need their fans. Even without a career in the field, anyone can be a fan and support their team, or favorite player. Can you imagine playing in an empty stadium?
On the field, behind the scenes, or on the stands, there’s always a way to support sports and fuel your passion, you just have to find what right for you.
