Courses in Sports Management: What to study and where, job prospects

The world seems a red blur when you watch Mo Salah running down the wing. But a rush of adrenaline isn’t the only thing that keeps these elite athletes going — there are other factors that motivate them and enhance their brand value. This is where Sports Management comes in. It is a specialised subject that covers administrative issues, finance, law and ethics in the sports industry.

Studying Sports Management

• After clearing your Class XII board exams, you can go for graduation in any stream and take up Sports Management at the master’s level.

• After your graduation, you can sit for management entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT and CMAT to do an MBA in Sports Management.

• You can opt for a PG Diploma in Sports Management after your graduation in any discipline.

• You can also sit for two separate Sports Management entrance exams conducted by the National Academy of Sports Management (NASM) and the International Institute of Sports Management (IISM).

NASM: It holds separate online entrance exams for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The exams test the candidate’s knowledge of basic and applied sciences, assessment, programme design, exercise techniques and training instructions, client relations and behavioural coaching, and professional development and responsibility.

IISM: The IISM conducts Sports Management Admission Exams (SMAT) for its undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The online exams cover topics like quantitative analysis, data interpretation, logical reasoning, verbal ability, visual reasoning and sports awareness.

Some leading Institutes that offer Sports Management courses:

IIM Rohtak, Haryana

Course offered: PG Diploma In Sports Management (PGDSM).

• Eligibility: A bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 50% aggregate or an equivalent overall grade point average.
• Admission: You need to appear for an online Sports Aptitude Assessment test, which is followed by a personal interview.
• Duration: Two years.

Check out more here.

Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM), Kolkata

Course offered: PG Diploma in Sports Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to write an entrance exam, which will be followed by group discussions and personal interviews.
• Duration: One year.

Check out more here.

Nest Academy of Sports Management, Mumbai

Course offered: Bachelor of Management Studies in Sports Management.

• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams from a UGC-recognised board to appear for the admission test, held by National Academy of Sports Management.
• Duration: Three years.

Course offered: Master’s degree in Sports Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree course from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to clear the NASM entrance exam and then appear for a personal interview.
• Duration: Two years .

Check out more here.

Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education, Gwalior

Course offered: MA in Sports Management.

• Eligibility: Graduation degree in any discipline.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Duration: Two years.

Course offered: PG Diploma in Sports Management.

• Eligibility: Undergraduate degree in any discipline.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Duration: One year.

Check out more here.

International Institute of Sports Management (IISM), Mumbai

Course offered: Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management.

• Eligibility: Clear your Class XII board exams from a recognised board with at least 50% aggregate to appear for SMAT and then for a personal interview.
• Duration: Three years.

Course offered: Master’s Degree in Sports Management.

• Eligibility: Score at least 50% marks in graduation in any stream. After that you need to write on four topics assigned to you over email and then clear SMAT and appear for a personal interview. If you’ve already cleared MAH-CET (Maharashtra Common Exam Test), you’ll be exempted from SMAT.
• Duration: Two years.

Check out more here.

Job roles with a Sports Management degree

• Sports development manager: They manage the daily activities of athletes and players of a team. Athlete development organisations, sports teams, franchises and government sports associations employ these professionals.

• Sports marketing manager: They coordinate all activities during a sporting event. They also employ marketing techniques to increase ticket sales during such events and frequently collaborate with sponsors.

• Sports agent: They look after media and business promotions for their clients. It’s their job to manage a player’s sponsorships. They interact with clubs and franchises for all business and monetary transactions on behalf of their clients.

• Director of sports: They oversee sports event management, programme management, fundraising, marketing and supply chain management of big clubs and franchises.

• Sports manager: They act as the spokespersons for their clients and maintain contact with the media. They are part of a group that tries to enhance a player’s brand value.

• Franchise operator: They recruit and train athletes, keep records and enforce legal regulations.