Sports Then and Now

At some point in life, you’ll likely be forced to admit that your chances of becoming a pro athlete are slim to none. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a successful career in sports. There are numerous related roles that will allow you to take part in your favorite sport or team and get paid for it. Here are some opportunities to focus on.

1. Social Media Director

Sports teams and organizations are aware of the potential for engaging and expanding their social media following, and like many businesses are increasingly looking for someone to represent them. If you have social media experience, writing, and digital marketing skills, the team you’re passionate about may need you.

2. Announcer

While the TV jobs usually go to established professionals and former athletes, sporting events at all levels usually require both on-site and radio announcers for broadcasting. You may be able to find a starting position as a high school announcer fairly easily. Moving up will typically require years of experience, training at broadcasting, and extensive knowledge of the game, along with a clear speaking voice and some authentic enthusiasm.

3. Sales Coordinator

All teams, even local high school teams, have an interest in earning extra money from merchandising or advertisers. You’ll work closely with team management, owners, and often the players themselves. You’re helping the team to improve and prosper in an important way. Typically, all it takes is an undergraduate degree in sales or marketing, some knowledge of sports management, and good people skills. Read the rest of this entry →

The internet has definitely given people access to information more than ever before, which is quite exciting, but it does come with challenges. Finding a reliable source for sports news and info can be hard online because there are so many sites to choose from, making the whole thing a little overwhelming. The following are few tips to help you find reliable sources.

Established Sites

One of the easiest ways to find a reliable sports site is to find one that has been working for ages. Sites startup all the time, but the most reliable sites are the ones that have been up of years. Go to a site’s about page to find out how long the site has been up and compare the sites you are considering afterward.

Expert Websites

Specialized websites are another way you can find a great source for your sports. Try to narrow down your sources from the biggest to the most specialized. Most people start with a regular news site and just look for their sports section. The web has more choices for you, so why not look for a website that only cares about sports or your favorite sport.  Read the rest of this entry →

Sports can be an effective way for a child to learn how to function as part of a team while having fun and staying in shape. However, sports can pose several dangers to children that school administrators should be aware of. While it is impossible to ensure that no child will ever get hurt playing for a school team, there are many steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of that happening.

Teach Proper Form

An athlete should be taught to never use his or her head as a means of making contact with a ball or to make contact with an opponent. Furthermore, players should be banned from striking another player in the head for any reason. Before games, players should be required to stretch and otherwise get their muscles ready for several minutes or hours of physical activity. Doing so may reduce strains or sprains.

Protect Players from Threats Made by Adults

While there is little on the line except pride in a middle or high school sporting event, parents or other fans may take the games quite seriously. This could lead to threats of physical violence being made at players. School officials should eject any parent or fan who makes a verbal or physical threat to a player. Officials should also be on the lookout for any threats after a game takes place. Read the rest of this entry →

Many coaches and sports enthusiasts talk about being a good “team player” but aren’t always clear about what exactly that means. Having the right skills and attitudes when working with others on a team can mean the difference between just being another member of that team and being a true team player. When your entire team is composed of true team players, then the abilities of your group are transformed and expanded. You have the opportunity to develop these skills and attitudes and help foster them across your entire team.

The Right Attitude

One of the cornerstones of being a team player is having the right attitude. This usually means being positive at all times. Most people can be positive when times are good, but those who are really team players remain positive when things are tough, after failure and when things go wrong. They are able to share this positive attitude with others and keep them motivated through the hard times. Whether your team wins or loses, your stabilizing attitude helps them see the positives or lessons that can come out of the experience.

The attitude of being a true team player is also displayed in how you relate to the accomplishments of others. When you are as excited about another player’s accomplishment as you would be for your own accomplishment, then you are starting to act like a team player. A true team player draws no distinction between themselves and their team. Every player’s accomplishment or skill is shared and celebrated.

Trust and Responsibility

A true team player is someone who has learned to balance the concepts of trust and responsibility with those around them. People come to trust a team player because they knew that person is going to be responsible and carry through. Real team players don’t try to do everything. They don’t try to play every position perfectly or promise, or expect, to carry the whole team. Instead, they balance what they do and understand their own limitations so they don’t take on what they won’t be able to finish or do well. This makes them more reliable and trustworthy. Other team members feel comfortable relying on them and depending on them.

On the flip side, a true team player is also capable of placing their trust in others and having confidence in their decisions and abilities. The true team player may act as a sort of mini-coach, recognizing the strengths and weaknesses in others on the team and helping them maximize those strengths while minimizing those weaknesses. This ability is critical to team strategy and cohesion. A team player is always practicing strategic thinking skills. They consider not just about what they themselves should do, but what everyone on the team should be doing.

Once another player’s role is set and their skills established, the true team player builds on that. Instead of trying to be the all-star, the true team player helps the entire team shine. In this way, the true team player exemplifies responsibility on both sides of the table. They are both responsible themselves and foster responsibility in those they play with. Read the rest of this entry →

There are plenty of ways you can become the next great broadcaster, as well as other areas and careers into the wonderful world of sports. This piece will break down how one can potentially break into these lucrative sports careers and get more involved in a career in the sport spotlight.

Sports Broadcaster

There is a specific path that one should go if they plan to become the next Joe Buck, Mike Breen or Al Michaels. Sports broadcasters work as analysts or play by play announcers for major sports networks or specific teams. Individuals that pursue sports broadcasting careers will need to get a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting or communications. Anyone looking at this job should also make sure that they take courses that will help them to familiarize themselves with the production process that surrounds a broadcast. They should consider courses in audio production, broadcast journalism, and mass media. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, aspiring broadcasters usually hone their skills via entry level opportunities at small or local radio stations before advancing to do television coverage. Read the rest of this entry →