According to Parks, Quarterman, and Zanger, there is a host of aspects related to sports management that must be considered by those endeavoring to join the contemporary field of managing sports organizations. Among these are issues such as the psychosocial aspects of sport and exercise, the organizational behavior of sports organizations, the marketing of sports management, and the professional development of the sports manager (Parks, et al, 1998). Contemporary sports management involves a series of challenges for managers, from the growing commercialization of sports to the growing number of foreign athletes playing on teams. This research will review some of the challenges and considerations with respect to sports management preparation and career choice.
We are a nation of sports fans and sports players. Interest in watching sports events continues to grow as do the salaries of athletes, coaches, and managers of sports organizations. Increased television coverage and Internet technologies create further interest and appeal in sports. Nevertheless, according to the Occupational Outlook and Handbook (2002-2003), careers in sports management are difficult to come by at best: “Very few beat the long odds and have the opportunity to make a living from professional athletics. Those who do find that careers are short and jobs are insecure—so having an alternative plan for a career is essential” (1).
In light of the above information, those interested in endeavoring to achieve a career in sports management must prepare in ways that help achieve this elusive goal. Most sports management majors require a number of hours of general instruction in addition to a specific number of hours of core courses in sports management. Such courses include but are not limited to: Human Resource Management, Law and Business, Introduction to Psychology, and Organization and Administration of Physical Education and Sport.
Because of...