You always imagined yourself working in the sports industry one day - maybe you never saw yourself as a professional athlete, but you hoped to find a place in this field. From running a retail store with wholesale products from Get Laced Laces to working with athletes as a personal trainer, you have the chance to make your own mark in the sports industry. Here are a few sports-related careers that you might not have thought about yet.

Lighting Engineer

You might have never considered a career path as a lighting engineer - but this profession can bring you into the sports industry! You could either launch a business that provides lighting to sports stadiums and arenas, or you could join an existing lighting company that contracts with sports venues to work as an engineer. 

If you’re curious about this career, start learning more by going over comprehensive industry case studies. You’ll find out how to effectively illuminate large and mid-size outdoor sports complexes and dive into lighting for football stadiums, indoor arenas, and other venues for both professional and collegiate sports.

Work-From-Home Jobs

Maybe you’d prefer to work from home rather than commute to your job each day. Thankfully, there are a surprising number of remote job opportunities within the sports industry. Whether you’re looking for freelance gigs or a full-time position, you’re sure to find something that fits. For example, you can work online as a sports writer, manage social media accounts for local teams, or even launch your very own sports podcast! 

Nonprofit Work

Many local sports teams and clubs, particularly sports organizations that are geared towards young players, rely on donations and community support to stay afloat. If you want to support amateur sports in your area, you can establish your own nonprofit. While you can fundraise independently for sports clubs in your community, it might be easier to run fundraisers when you have an official nonprofit. 

If you’re short on fundraiser ideas, Donor Box recommends hosting potluck picnics, leading donation-based fitness classes, having a bowl-a-thon, or sponsoring individual athletes. You can use these donations to fund uniforms, lighting, turf, and other resources for local teams.

Working With Athletes

What if you’d like to work directly with athletes, but you’re not interested in coaching a team? Becoming a physical therapist for athletes or a personal trainer are both options. If you want to work as a physical therapist, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree. But you do not need to have a college degree to become a personal trainer, so depending on your educational goals, working as a personal trainer may be more attainable.

Retail and Equipment Sales

If you have a great eye for trends and you’re passionate about finding the best sports gear for your own athletic pursuits, you might be suited to entrepreneurship in the sports retail niche. To open your own sporting goods store, MageStore recommends determining which athletic activities are most popular in your area, identifying your target customers, developing a clear business plan, and, most importantly, drawing up a budget outlining your startup costs and financial projections for your first year in business. You’ll also need to decide whether you want to run your business from home and sell a smaller number of products through an ecommerce shop or if you’d like to rent out commercial space in your area.

You don’t have to become an athlete yourself to break into the sports industry. In fact, there are plenty of potential career paths in the world of sports, no matter where your talents lie. Whether you’re interested in becoming a lighting engineer, working online, or starting a nonprofit, you can become successful in the sports industry.