How can you gain experience in different areas of Sports Management?

My entry into sports management was through an online course in Cricket Business Management in 2016. This was followed by two internships in sustainable sports and cricket academy marketing & operations respectively. The thread that connected the three was networking and forming connections with the internship supervisors which later helped me obtain a full-time position in the industry.

Volunteering in sports is probably the easiest way to learn some basic and core elements of sports management. My experience in this involves me being the ‘manager’ for an Under 14s boys soccer team in what was called the Chappies Little League. Outside of the lack of soccer talent, I was already above the cut off age, so I wasn’t eligible to play. But the coach of the team was very happy to give me the role of manager. Little did I know that I was learning a lot in management. I was first to training. I knew which player needed assistance with transport, or getting soccer boots etc. I quickly learned to fill in registration forms, sorting out sports uniforms for the team, filling game sheets and so on.

A 15-year allegiance to Real Madrid fueled my journey into Sports Management. A visit to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium sparked a profound calling, prompting me to establish a Youth Division 2 club in Sierra Leone, focusing on U17, U15, and U12 categories. Driven by the desire to contribute meaningfully, I enrolled at the Johan Cruyff Institution, Spain, for a Sports Management Diploma in 2021. This convergence of passion, grassroots engagement, and formal education reflects my commitment to fostering local talent and elevating football administration in Sierra Leone. As I navigate this holistic path, my aim is to weave experiences into a tapestry that enriches the football landscape.

A la hora de adquirir experiencia es muy importante buscar oportunidades, ya sean internas en tu propio trabajo (proyectos transversales) o externas, para poder desarrollar competencias y habilidades a la hora de gestionar personas, a través de nuevas prácticas profesionales, trabajos parciales... todo ello le ayudará a desarrollar las habilidades y conocimientos en este campo y a construir su red de contactos profesional.

In my experience, everywhere needs or wants volunteers. This can be any sort of role! I volunteered at my junior club for a number of years, shadowing those higher up in hopes of having a similar role in future. Through this i’ve learnt different perspectives, techniques and attitudes towards leading a sport and have found my own philosophies and methodologies to work best for me.

Joining a professional association is a strategic move to enhance your career. These organizations offer valuable networking opportunities, access to industry insights, and professional development resources. By becoming a member, you can connect with like-minded professionals, stay updated on industry trends, and gain exclusive access to conferences and workshops. This affiliation not only expands your professional network but also demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning and growth. Additionally, many associations provide certifications that can boost your credibility and marketability in your field.

It's so important to join professional associations. Today so many different associations can be general or very specific to speak to the needs that you are looking for in your career journey. For instance, in sports, there are associations for women in sports, women in collegiate athletics, Black women, Black sports professionals, etc. There is a lot of intersectionality in a person's identity and now that there are so many different niche associations and groups, it can help you get the support you need along every step in your career journey. It's a great investment as an individual, but there are also opportunities to get involved and have your company or organization assist with the cost of membership.

Ingressar em associa??es profissionais é uma estratégia inteligente. Essas organiza??es oferecem uma rede valiosa de recursos, desde oportunidades educacionais até conex?es com especialistas. Além disso, participar de eventos e programas de mentoria pode proporcionar insights cruciais e manter você atualizado com as tendências no campo da gest?o esportiva.

If you want to be professional in the industry you have to work with professionals . You have to ask for the best for yourself and your future. Gain experience for professional makes your future better and better .

Muito bom . Estamos em busca de conhecimento. Aperfei?oamento e exeto. Com muito trabalho e esfor?o. Confiamos e acreditamos no que fazemos. Estamos sempre em alto estilo para melhorar.

Todo esto forma parte de su innovación personal. Para desarrollar las habilidades y competencias necesarias hay que enfocarse en habilidades de relaciones humanas, de organización, TIC, y herramientas que le hagan pensar "out of the box". Por lo que asistir a cursos o certificaciones, talleres, conferencias se antoja clave. Además podría participar en grupos de discusión del sector y trabajar en paralelo con un mentor, de esta forma puede mejorar sus competencias y actualizarse en las últimas tendencias. Y practicar luego esas nuevas habilidades a través de proyectos transversales y actividades en su trabajo diario, o en su defecto también fuera de él.

Adicionalmente por mi experiencia, más que sacar un curso o certificación, estos deben tener un 70% mínimo de práctica (Aprendizaje basada en Talleres, casos o proyectos), para que la metodología sea "aprender haciendo", logrando adquirir una habilidad específica que vaya a sumar de verdad en el área profesional. #RG

Ao optar por cursos online e certifica??es em gest?o esportiva, você n?o apenas adquire conhecimento teórico, mas também desenvolve habilidades práticas essenciais. Plataformas como Coursera, edX e Udemy oferecem uma gama diversificada de cursos, abrangendo desde direito e ética esportiva até lideran?a e finan?as. Além disso, certifica??es como CSMP e CSEE n?o apenas validam suas habilidades, mas também proporcionam uma vantagem competitiva ao buscar oportunidades profissionais. Essa abordagem estruturada refor?a sua base teórica e prática, tornando-se um investimento valioso em sua carreira na gest?o esportiva.

Si bien soy de las que piensan que la mejor manera de aprender es en la aplicación práctica, tampoco debe ser la única opción. Bajo mi experiencia, tras haber trabajado en la práctica en este campo de la gestión deportiva, una vez me he sentado a aprender la teoría, me ha servido para desenredar la madeja de conocimientos que había adquirido, pero no estaba siendo capaz de ordenar en mi cabeza. Una vez la teoría me aportó estructura y lógica, esto me sirvió para volverme más eficiente a la hora de seguir ejecutando en la práctica. Hay muchas opciones en las que irse enfocando para mejorar: liderazgo de equipos, atención al cliente, resolución de conflictos, ventas, marketing, explotación de recursos...

Sin duda, todo lo que e haga en este campo para complementar o ampliar la experiencia de trinchera es más que bienvenida. Si es verdad que hay algo clave, y es que hay muchas soft skills que al final es muy difícil que se puedan aprender, como la humildad, el código ético de cada uno ( que básicamente es el que nos acompa?a toda la vida ) o simplemente una cultura de esfuerzo continuo y autocrítica que te ayude a ver lo que estas haciendo mal o lo que puedes mejorar. Y aquí está la belleza precisamente. No hay un sistema perfecto, ni el mismo sistema funcionará para todos. A?adir, por supuesto, la importancia de interactuar con personas del mundillo, compa?eros, o simplemente hablar con personas que puedan aportar algo de valor.

Aportar artículos de gran contenido, lanzar un podcast puede ser clave a la hora de tocar un punto esencial: las relaciones profesionales y tu marca personal. Participar en este tipo de acciones le podría posicionar y proporcionar una red de contactos perfecta para en un futuro disponer de oportunidades de trabajo y crecimiento profesional.

By doing this you also open yourself up to more learning opportunities from people who have a different area of expertise and can allow more research opportunities and connections with a different group of experts

Acredito que iniciar um blog ou podcast dedicado à gest?o esportiva é uma maneira inovadora de mostrar sua paix?o e conhecimento. Essa iniciativa n?o só melhora suas habilidades de comunica??o, mas também constrói uma presen?a digital robusta. Ao compartilhar análises, notícias e entrevistas, você cria um portfólio autêntico que pode chamar a aten??o de possíveis empregadores. Além disso, a promo??o nas redes sociais amplia sua visibilidade, contribuindo para solidificar sua marca pessoal no cenário da gest?o esportiva.

Launching a blog or podcast is a powerful way to share your expertise and passions with a global audience. A blog allows for in-depth written exploration, while a podcast leverages the intimacy of audio. Start by defining your niche and target audience. Create valuable, engaging content that addresses their interests or solves their problems. Consistency is key—regularly update your blog or release podcast episodes. Leverage social media to promote your content and engage with your audience. Over time, your platform can become a valuable resource, showcasing your knowledge and building a community around your ideas. Whether through the written word or spoken narrative, a blog or podcast offers a unique avenue for personal expression.

Learning from a mentor can help with career advancement in the sports sector. In a cricket-crazy country like India, it may seem that only one sport is thriving, but that's not true. The industry is continuously evolving; therefore, it would be ideal to learn from an experienced professional who can provide the pros and cons of different disciplines within the sports sector.

Paricipar en un programa de trainee interno o externo ayudaría a tener la mejor base en todas las áreas de gestión. Puede conocer todos los procesos internos (estratégicos, operativos y de soporte), mayor conocimiento del sector (modelos de negocio, producto y servicio, modelos de gestión, evolución del sector...). Otro aspecto clave ser?ua un programa de tutoría, mentoring y coaching, donde se le ira guiando en sus progresos, dando soporte en el conocimiento y aplicación de nuevas herramientas. Y aprendiendo gracias a la "inteligencia colectiva" de el/los tutores y del talento de las personas que participen.

Lo mejor de este punto es utilizar la herramienta del mentoring, ya que esto me permite: 1. Aprendizaje Continuo, de la mano del líder o la persona que ya maneja esas funciones, y conoce como resolver conflictos de la mejor manera en esa área. 2. Adquirir habilidades específicas y técnicas del tema, esto nos lleva al desarrollo o crecimiento personal y profesional. 3. Transferencia del conocimiento, los que nos lleva aprender, desaprender y reaprender, pasando a innovar en nuevos proyectos e ideas. #RG

Ask questions. Reach out to industry professionals to show an interest in the industry, position, or company. Use this as a networking tool, or at least a way to improve your own knowledge and understanding of the industry. Not everyone will want to be a mentor or even help, but you don’t know without asking or trying. Showing an interest, trying to better yourself, and then being ready for an opportunity should it arise are great ways to get started.

Pedir feedback, más que una opción, debería ser una obligación. Todo profesional que se precie, debería estar deseoso de rodearse de compa?eros que sepan más que uno mismo y de los que pueda seguir aprendiendo. Y ojo, esto no siempre tiene que ser de arriba a abajo. A menudo me ha gustado pedir a mis compa?eros de equipo, siendo en la jerarquía ellos un escalón inferior, feedback y opinión sobre ciertos aspectos que tal vez no estuviera viendo objetivamente de mí misma. Es la maravilla del trabajo en equipo, ya que además de mejorar por mí, su percepción me ayudaría a mejorar por ellos y por el clima laboral. Nunca demos por hecho que ya hacemos algo a la perfección; al menos, de vez en cuando, siempre podemos volver a pulirlo.

Try joining a sports network such as @UltimateSportsNetworks or @UltimateFootballNetworks to see if they have a network to join where you can network direct with people in sports management!??

In addition to seeking feedback and mentorship, consider expanding your professional network. Networking opens doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and industry insights. Attend relevant events, join online forums, and connect with professionals in your field. Stay updated on industry trends and technologies to remain competitive. Also, prioritize work-life balance for sustained well-being. Investing in your physical and mental health enhances overall productivity and job satisfaction. Lastly, continuously update your skills through courses or workshops to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving job market.

A lot of sports events require volunteers. You can be a volunteer and work in different areas to get experience in other sections.

To broaden your experience in various aspects of sports management, think about volunteering or interning with local sports organizations, attending workshops or conferences relevant to your interests, connecting with professionals in the field, and exploring educational opportunities in sports management. Embrace this hands-on approach to cultivate practical skills and construct a diverse portfolio, shaping your unique journey in sports management.

8 pasos imprescindibles: -análisis de necesidades (evaluaciones 360o, análisis externos, habilidades y competencias identificadas, necesidades de los actuales puestos directivos) - planificación (planificación gaps que necesita para lograr objetivo) - desarrollo: puesta en marcha interna, conocer procesos internos (estratégicos, procesos, operativos) conjuntamente con tutorías o mentoring) - Experiencia: tratar de adquirir experiencia (prácticas profesionales, a tiempo parcial...) - Sistematización: establecer indicadores percepción (ev. desempe?o, etc) y de rendimiento para medir progreso y ajustar - Innovación personal (formación y capacitación) - Networking - Evaluación de mejora