Careers in Sports

On October 30, 2011 when the Budh International Circuit hosted the first Formula One race in India, it did not just host some of the finest racers in the world, it birthed track support engineers, speed photographers, celebrity managers, commentators, visualisers and even sound engineers! It's interesting to learn about Niharika Ghorpode, a young girl from Kolhapur and Mayo College Girls' School, Ajmer who started as a motorsport intern at an automotive magazine and went on to become India's first F1 Paddock Journalist. To every naysayer, please note, it's possible!

Sports is big business. It's important to find your niche

According to the 2024 report, the global sport market was at $440 billion in 2021, and by 2025, it is projected to reach nearly $600 billion. From direct growth through media rights or via fields such as sports science, legalized sports betting, fantasy sport and little leagues to connected sectors such as fitness, wellbeing, healthcare and education, the pie is fairly large and this projection may be a bit conservative.

To put things in context, I reached out to one of my students who chose sports marketing and branding as his niche at the ESSEC Business School, France. Today, as the ESSEC Sports Chair 2024, Nandan Saraf highlights, “The recent trend of Drive to Survive and the use of OTT platforms to revive sports fan engagement in a sport like Formula 1 (has) basically revived the sport that was dying. Following this we could see a lot of other sports like Tennis, Football making Netflix specials to engage fans and target new audiences.”

Opportunities in the field of Sports

India will be hosting the Olympics in 2036, there's no better time to build the ecosystem and encourage students to consider mapping their interests and aptitude with a connected career.

Your student may be an athlete and that pathway may begin with gully sports to playing for school to state, national and international-level journeys, but let's look at some interesting options that are related to sports. This is not an exhaustive summary of possibilities along with some university names, but it can be used to begin exploring.

Sports Analyst

According to MadAboutSports, a sports analyst is a person who studies sports analytical data like player performances, team assessment, business operations, scouting and recruitment, to determine one's strengths and weaknesses. Watch: Moneyball

Sports Management

At Loughborough University, Sports Management is co-taught by the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (currently ranked 1st in the world for sports-related subjects) and the School of Business and Economics to equip you with vital skills in marketing, organizational management, and accounting – all around managing sports.

Sports Psychology

PositivePsychology.com shares how the role of a sports psychologist 'in the success of top sportspeople is less about being more successful than others and increasingly about performing better than previously.' While there are a number of Bachelors options to choose from, there are a number of Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology offered by universities in the United States, including at the University of Colorado, Denver.

Sports Physiologist

It's all about keeping those muscles agile and studying programs around Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation or Health Sciences (Physiology and Neuroscience), University of Canberra or University of New South Wales or Western Australia could be a great place to start.

Sports Law

“With increasing stakes comes increased risks - and sports law is going to find a strong place as sponsorships, endorsements and marketing contracts become intrinsic to growth." Says Kala Anand, an International Higher-ed Strategist. OP Jindal Global University, in collaboration with the University of Queensland Law School, hosts a joint course on Sports Law and Governance. Internationally, there are a number of options from the Harvard Law School to Pepperdine and University of Miami where LLM programs in Sports Law are offered by legal experts who've spent years in the sector.

Sports Nutritionist

Meal plans, timings, and its coordination with training itineraries of athletes is a full-time job that's best managed by dieticians who understand health science and holistic well-being. While there are basic certifications available, practicing with a sports nutritionist for a few years does help build a deeper understanding of what works.

Figure1: This representation is based on guiding a number of students. It is open to individual counselor interpretation and research.

Clearly, the scope is endless. Why then, is Physical education (PE) still considered a free period or an easy scoring tag-along subject at most schools with an Indian curriculum. As a parent and counselor, having experienced the expanse of a school such as the Isha Home School (IHS), Coimbatore (now also streaming as part of The Great Indian Residential Schools), I'm of the firm understanding that schools are laboratories, not just for STEM related learning but also for exploring oneself on the field, on stage and in life, in general. Where else will the student learn to win and lose, fall and get back up with grace! IHS is one of the few schools where students not only learn Kalaripayattu, an ancient martial art that builds inner resilience, but also a space where academic orientation is built around physical, mental and spiritual well being.

The Fun Conversation ;)

How to talk to parents about building a career as a sportsperson or around a sport you love?

Passion, Preparation and Parents

As college counselors, we meet with passion everyday. It could be dance, music, acting, or a sport; not all are willing to take the path less traveled, gain mastery and build a life around it. In getting ready for a related field, one may even need to study some subjects that might seem unnecessary (especially to a sports person). A college degree is not always a means to an end. You study to become a better thinker, ideator, and more, and you also learn some skills.

Vipul Bhargava, the Founder of GILT Education and parent to an aspiring cricketer notes that "Building a career as a sportsman is extremely hard given the competitive nature and the sheer competition... A true and honest assessment of oneself is critical to distinguish an interest versus a passion."

Conversation Part 1

Talk to the student and the parent about their overall willingness to go all the way. There is no one-way to deal with a parent who's personal perception about a career in sports is narrow, but that's where your assessment along with your willingness to be this student's cheerleader, can help.

Research is key

College, country, course, career - students must learn to filter their options and choose what truly matters to them. Refer Figure 1.

Most would agree that sports such as cricket and football are oversubscribed. Encouraging sports such as Track and Field, Swimming, or Basketball since they “are timing based sports and hence its easier to measure performance” can increase chances of future success says Sports and Education Consultant, Vikram Anand. He's quick to add that “unfortunately (the sports) lack adequate coaching and training facilities in our country.”

Conversation Part 2

Help the family put their dreams or perspective in context. A thorough understanding of the sport / field of interest will help.

In conclusion, sports is not just a niche career for exploration, it's a commitment - a unique chance at encouraging kids to be kids, on and off-the-field. We, as counselors, can do our best at making sports-related conversations mainstream. Do I hear you say, but I don't play squash or tennis like some enthusiasts I know; well, find your reason to learn and read more. My reason: I'm advocating for women in sports leadership positions, a figure that's at an abysmal 5% or less, even when close to 40% of sports participants are women.

Counselors, are you game?