Sport Manager

Sport managers organize sporting events and coordinates sport programmes at various institutes or centres, such as gymnasiums and sports clubs.

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Because millions of rands are spent on sport and recreation yearly, sport managers must design and develop organisation structures and management systems to control large-scale investments and sponsorships.
Sport managers design and manage scientific training programmes for sportspeople and may give advice about obtaining sponsors. They also manage training programmes for ordinary people who want to keep fit. Some manage enterprises such as gymnasiums or sports clubs.

They make decisions with regard to marketing, investments and sponsorships, as well as the handling of financial matters. They are often involved in personnel matters such as selection, recruitment and development. They ensure that equipment is kept in good order, prepare staff timetables and prepare budgets.

Sport managers may help to plan and design sporting and recreation complexes, and do research in the fields of training, fitness, diet, equipment and apparatus. They advise sports bodies on recreation plans and policies.

They may specialise in a particular field and need to have a thorough knowledge of various types of sport, as well as the human body. Many sport managers have coaching experience. They need to have a natural ability to motivate and inspire others. The Comrades Marathon road race is an example of the work in which a sport manager is involved.

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Personal Requirements

• able to plan, organise and coordinate
• able to negotiate
• good communication skills, especially verbal
• get on well with other people
• keen interest in sport and management
• natural ability to motivate and inspire others

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How to Enter

Schooling & School Subjects

• National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
• National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course

Each institution has its own entry requirements.

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What to Study

Degree: Sports Education or Sports Management - NMMU, UJ, US, UWC, UP, UV

Diploma: N.Dip: Sports Administration and Marketing or Sport Management – CPUT, TUT, CUT, VUT, Boland and Northlink FETs, ETA, Rosebank College, Varsity College etc

Post-graduate: degrees in Sport Management are also offered with specialisation in Sport Management, Exercise Science, Sport Sociology, Sport Psychology, Sport Communication and Recreation Management.

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Employment

• The Department of Education
• South African Federation for Movement and Leisure Sciences
• Confederation of South African Sports
• universities and universities of technology
• SANDF
• SAPS
• mining houses
• Eskom
• SAB
• Department of Correctional Services
• gymnasiums and sports clubs
• self-employment, with enough experience and capital, can start of business, such as own gymnasium or designing sport products and/or ting as an agent for professional sportspeople

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Further Information

Sports Science Institute of South Africa SSISA
Private Bag X5
Newlands, 7725
Tel: (021) 659-5600
www.ssisa.com

The South African Sports Commission (SASC)
www.sasc.org.za

Exercise Teachers Academy
P O Box 694
Rondebosch 7701
Tel: (021) 683-8342 
www.exerciseacademy.com

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Getting Started

• become involved in the sports activities of a school or sports club
• familiarise yourself with the human body and its functions and learn about nutritional matters
• develop an interest in all kinds of sport and take a first aid course
• try to obtain vacation or part-time work as an assistant at a sports club, even if unpaid
• speak to a sport manager about this career.

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Related Occupations

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