Sports Then and Now

They say “do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” Well, what if what you love is sports? We can’t all be professional athletes, and perhaps that ship has well and truly sailed for you already. However, those aren’t the only ways to turn your passion for sports into a career. Here are a few other ways you should be aware of.

Start writing for sports

Are you a confident writer or a good speaker? Then sports journalism could be the right step for you. It can involve writing for websites, papers and magazines, radio or TV. If you prefer a more independent route, you can start blogging, though it can take time for monetization opportunities, such as affiliate programs, to start presenting themselves. You can also look into academic writing and getting into the world of sports academia, but that requires a lot more education.

Help develop the athletes

Want to help athletes stick at the top of their game? There are a lot of ways to do it. Coaching is the most obvious, but many coaching positions are voluntary or highly competed for in schools. Personal trainers are highly sought after, helping with the strengthening and condition of top-level athletes. If you can make it through the personal training courses, it can be highly lucrative as you will deal with not only athletes but also clients from all walks of life. Sports instructors and physiotherapists tend to work more closely and exclusively with athletes and may end up getting hired to work full time for certain teams or groups.

Take a snap of the action

Got a decent camera? There is always a need for high-quality sports photography and footage, used by media outlets, both traditional and online. You can work as a freelance photographer, selling your photos to papers, magazines, and websites, or you can take video for TV companies as well. Furthermore, while a photography degree can be helpful in teaching you how to take professional quality snaps, it’s far from mandatory. All you really need to get started is the equipment capable of taking great shots, especially of scenes in motion.

Marketing, PR, and communications

If you want to spread the love of the game, then there are few better ways than to join the marketing and promotion arms of sporting organizations. There is a wide range of modern sports marketing opportunities for beginners, including social media managers, press release writers, and content creators. Many teams and organizations are looking to the online world with fresh eyes, and they need creators who are accustomed to the medium as well as the tone more commonly found online. This could be the perfect place for someone who is always abreast of the latest news to shine.

With the right passion, dedication to the sport, and qualifications, it’s not too difficult to get a sports-related career. Just be aware that there is a lot of competition out there, so you have to be willing to devote yourself to your chosen field.