Though jobs in the sports industry might seem to be plentiful, it is a very competitive field. Divided into ten sections, this industry contains thousands of jobs in, sporting events, trade shows and meetings, sport sponsors, sport related media, sport facilities, sport retailers and manufactures, and professional sport services.

This industry in particular has a large turnover, a complex infrastructure, and an influence on many people's lives via the media and participation. To completely understand the nature of the sports industry, one must know that it is composed of different components:

Different Components in the Sports Industry

-Sporting goods - equipment manufacturers, high street sports retailers

-Facility management, provision and maintenance - motor sport facilities, stadiums, sports and leisure centers

-Sports coaching

-Sports tourism - packages for fans attending the world cup matches, or Olympics

-Sports development - sports development initiatives, governing bodies for various sports, local authority sports development officers

-Sports-related gambling/betting

-Professional sport

-Health and fitness - health clubs, GP referral schemes, personal fitness

-Trainers

-Sports medicine -sports injury clinics, physiotherapists

-Outdoors and adventure activities - mountain biking, climbing, canoeing

To know every section of the sports industry, you must understand the type of activities that take place and the respective organizations that provide them. For instance, if you are planning to get involved with sporting goods, you should know the different types of goods that are available through specialist equipment manufacturers and high end retailers, plus names of the various companies involved.

Likewise, to seek a job in sports development, you should be aware of what "sports development" is and the various jobs available for sports development officers, as well as the organizations that employ them, like the local authorities and charities governing bodies of different sports.

In general, people take it for granted that jobs are restricted within the sports industry. However, there are many other opportunities available. A job in the sports industry could range from that as a professional athlete, to a ball girl/boy, to a general manager of a professional sports team. You don't have to work for a professional sports team to get into the industry. You could start working as a trainer or coach for a high school team, a journalist, or a sports agent, or even work as a television broadcaster.

Salary Range in the Sports Industry

The sport, the team and the type of job, are some of the aspects that influence salaries in the sports industry. Following are examples of salary ranges of some jobs in the sports industry:

Coach: $20,000-$400,000+ (College) and $20,000-$70,000 (high school)

Sportscaster: $18,000-$1 million

Sportswriter: $15,000-$1 million

Sports Event Coordinator: $24,000-$90,000+

Education largely depends on the type of job one is planning to pursue. A college degree may not assure a job in the industry but may provide numerous opportunities for employment. Besides, it is almost impossible to get into the sports industry without experience. The best way to prepare for a job in the sports industry is to get maximum exposure.