Sports welcomes Management Professionals

Sports in India had to fight its own freedom struggle to get free from the shackles of being called a ‘Leisure Activity’ to be among one of the career options and had to struggle harder to deviate the focus from cricket to other sports also.


The turning phase came more than a decade ago, when the Indian government announced that India will be hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Though the organisation of the event might be in question, the silver lining was the emergence of various stars like Sushil Kumar, Vijender Singh, Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom and many more who showed exemplary performance in the games and deviated the focus of Indian viewers from cricket to sports as a whole.


The country which was under the spell of cricket soon started to break itself free with students and parents accepting other sports like badminton, wrestling, boxing, weight lifting, archery, shooting and many more as a promising career option. Sports which were considered to be a lifestyle fit for people with sturdiness, robustness and passion was starting to stretch its hands towards white collar jobs.


The sports scenario has changed drastically over the years. Today the sports field not only comprises of a coach, trainer or players but also welcomes managers, organisers and CEOs. Managers, which were earlier managing and leading corporate and organisations are now turning towards sports to make it more organised and professional. Sports opened its gates for MBAs too. The commercialisation of sports called for skilled professionals to manage things like marketing, broadcasting, sponsorship, events and PR (public relations). Managing sports? Sounds weird? But the job is as much fun as playing a sport can be. Sports management is one of the upcoming courses in India attracting large number of students every year.


The course entails planning, supervising and organising sporting activities like international or domestic tournaments or matches. The demand for a professional with management expertise has increased with the huge amount of money involved. Sports Management has also taken shade under the huge umbrella of management. People who are sports lover at heart and never got a chance to show their sporting skills can still be associated with their first love. Courses in Sports Management will provide an opportunity to work for, around and with sports persons. Let’s find out what all it has to offer…
 

What the Sports Management course offers:

The course in sports management focuses on the following areas:

• Social and Ethical relevance of sports
• Sponsorship, marketing and merchandise of sports
• Sports and finance
• Communication with the press and media
• Sponsorship and broadcasting
• Knowledge about sports law on contracts and drug use
• Sports ethics and sports organization

Career prospects ahead:

A career in sports management is much more than just assisting a player; it entails exceptional skills to manage any activity of sports. It requires highly skilled managers to play smart off the field so that the on field performance is executed smoothly. A person acquainted with sports management can explore various opportunities and can work as a Sports Agent, Sports Marketing professional, Sports Director, Event Manager, Player Personnel, PR and Community Relations Officer, Sports Broadcasting Manager, Sports In charge, Media and Communication Officer, Sponsorship Manager and Sports Administrator.
 

Institutes offering courses in Sports Management in India:

• Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, offering one-year PGDSM (Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management)
• Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Science, New Delhi; offering one-year PGDSM (Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management)
• IISWBM: Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management conducts a one-year full time Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management
• International Institute of Sports Management (IISM) in Mumbai

For the ones who want to lead the players of their favourite sports such a course is tailor made & god-sent!