Sports Management and Operations Reflection Post

In this week’s blog post I will reflect on the information that I have acquired over the past month of my Sports Management and Operations course. The course provided material that I was curious about and had not had the chance to research in depth over the course of my program to this point. Through course materials and industry professionals, I have gained valuable information about fan loyalty programs, facility management, the impact of social media and some pointers on how to land a career in sports.

The two most important topics that I will take away from the class are social media’s influence in sports through fan engagement and how to obtain employment with a sports organization. In terms of social media, I found it interesting how sports clubs are using social media outlets to increase fan loyalty. By humanizing and personalizing athletes and teams, social media has given fans access to communicate with their idols on a more personal level. Furthermore, social media has made the behind the scenes world of trades, travel and day to day events more available to fans who keep up to date through tweets, posts and YouTube video clips. The idea of making the fan a co-creator for their favorite franchise appears to be the biggest game changer. Teams requesting for fans to submit pictures, ideas and comments to official team websites gives the spectator a true sense of involvement in the organization’s current status, future and community.

I have developed a new understanding of how to begin to search for a career in the sports industry. This course has given me insight on what I need to look for and what I have to be willing to do to achieve my objective. Mark Tudi, Executive Search Consultant for Sport Search states there are a few principles that one must follow to differentiate themselves from their competition. Being new to the business the individual must be open to starting in a sector that might not be very glamorous. This also means that the individual should be willing to work at a low compensation level at first. The candidate also needs to know what they do best, not where they see themselves, but what they can actually bring to an organization in terms of their particular skill set. Mr. Tudi concluded, “we get hired for what we know, we get fired for who we are”. The bottom line is good people go to the top!

I have gained valuable tools throughout the course and plan to use them in preparation for a career in the sports industry. I need to be open, available and ready for any opportunity that comes across my plate. I understand that more opportunities may arise for myself if I can perform and complete more responsibilities efficiently on a minor league level. This course gave me a better understanding of where I could possibly fit in an organization and what qualities will help me sell myself more effectively. I understand the sacrifices that come with a career in sports and feel that I am now well equipped after gaining the valuable information of Sports Management and Operations.