Sports Medicine Direct

Tony Jacowski asked:


Sports medicine offers a challenging field of work varying from injury prevention to treatment and recovery. In addition to the many medical career choices, there are many developing fields of alternative sports therapy.

When a player suddenly faints and falls while playing, there are a few people that try to revive him or put him on a stretcher and take him off the field. This job is little known by spectators. Among the group could be a doctor, a fitness instructor, or an orthopedist. All are branches of the same stream of medicine, known as sports medicine.

In the world of sports, an athlete’s fitness and physical well being play a major role in his sports career. Not only his diet and fitness but also his medical capabilities to overcome stress are winning factors. Diagnosing the right ailment and taking care of the performance of the athlete is the basic job of the sports medical professional.

Let’s take a look at this career in a broader perspective.

Eligibility

-Preferably an individual with science background with additional knowledge of sports

-High school diploma (with science subject)

-4 years’ bachelor’s degree in science or science subjects in the curriculum

-MDs and surgeons have additional requirements based on their specialty

Specialization In Sports Medicine

There are different specializations in the field of sports medicine; for example, exercise physiology, physical therapy, orthopedics, sports nutrition, biomechanics, etc. These specializations have different requirements. For example, in orthopedics, a master’s degree is required.

Major areas of specialization include:

-Coaching

-Science of Exercise

-Physical, as well as Athletic Training

-Health & Physical Fitness Promotion

The name of the course and its curriculum varies across colleges and universities.

Jobs

Some of the prominent jobs in the field of sports or exercise science are as follows:

-Dietician: The job of a dietician is to plan the diet for an athlete and decide on his intake of essential nutrients. The dietician should have an American Dietetics Association (ADA) approved internship and a certification.

-Fitness instructor: A fitness instructor works either in the gym or on a regular job for a sports team. He works along with the fitness team, which includes the physical therapists, coaches, exercise physiologists, etc.

-Exercise physiologist: They are the personnel who monitor the effect of exercise on the athlete’s body. The exertion, good and bad effects of the same are responsible for the athlete’s health.

-Medical Physician: A medical physician is qualified to diagnose and treat an athlete in case of an emergency. Depending on their qualifications, medical physicians are hired. They mostly work in the medical team or are practicing doctors in hospitals.

Biomechanist, occupational physiologist, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialist are some of the other jobs available.

Salary

Salary differs from profession to profession, and the experience one has in the field. Generally professionals make more money when they specialize in specific areas of practice.

Tips On A Career In Sports Medicine

-Include science subjects like biology, physics, and anatomy as part of your school/college curriculum.

-Do background research on the available colleges and their costs.

-Decide on the college according to your area of specialization.

-Develop contacts with sports teams and instructors; it is easier to know about the various streams of sports medicine through them. It is also good for networking purposes, which will be helpful while getting an internship/trainee job with a sports club or team.

-If you enjoyed playing the sport, you will also enjoy attending to the players. Developing a liking for the game will also heighten your interests.

Like any other career, sports medicine requires education, experience and dedication to excellence. The field of sports medicine is growing, and even though it is a part of the discipline of medicine, it is different and can offer a lively environment to work in. If you enjoy sports, you should consider sports medicine.



Patricia

Tony Jacowski asked:


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.



Lester

Dan Gold asked:


We know that not everyone has the physical and mental talents needed to become a professional athlete. So what’s the next best thing? Why, sports jobs that constantly bring you into contact with professional athletes, of course. And one of the most necessary of sports jobs is being a massage therapist for professional athletes.

Why become a massage therapist?

Though it does not carry the same prestige that a professional athlete may enjoy, being a sports massage therapist is still an important job that no sports team can do without. No serious professional athlete can survive the rigors of regular sports competition if he lacks the services of a good sports massage therapist.

Why is sports massage needed by athletes?

A sports massage therapist can aid athletes who are going through overcompensation and adaptation. Simply put, overcompensation is when the athlete has recently undergone stress overload (a usual occurrence in regular training and sports competition proper) so he overcompensates so that he will be prepared for the same or higher level of stress in the future. Adaptation is when the athlete is specially trained in coping with a certain type of stress. For example, a sprinter is used to running in short bursts over short distances so he needs to adapt to that.

A sports massage therapist will manipulate soft tissue (such as the hamstrings of a sprinter) prior to and after the exercise so that the athlete can experience less muscle tension and pain. Another benefit is that waste products can be eliminated from the body of the athlete, especially via the lymphatic system because of massage. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is lessened through massage as well. In the end, treatment via sports massage allows the athlete to gain better flexibility and posture.

Where can sports massage therapists be employed?

Since sports massage is needed by both recreational and professional athletes, sports jobs like that of sports massage therapists are offered in both recreational and professional sports venues. You can find work in local gyms and community sports centers if you target recreational athletes for your service. If you favor working with professional athletes, you might want to apply with teams affiliated with professional sports organizations. If you get really, really lucky (or just have good networking skills) you might be able to find work with a particular professional sports athlete as part of his personal care team.

What other services does a massage therapist provide?

Aside from massage, a massage therapist might also help the professional athlete with the treatment and management of sports injuries, exercise rehabilitation and therapy, and helping plan the sports nutrition program of the professional athlete.

The advances in the 20th century as far as sports medicine is concerned have helped foster demand for sports massage therapists as one of the more valued sports jobs. Of course, you may need to train for this position before you can be considered by a professional sports organization, but it promises to be a great type of job (if you enjoy working with athletes.)



Brenda

Penny Hastings asked:


You don’t have to hang up your soccer cleats or trade in your tennis racket when your school days are over. By choosing a career in a sports-related field you can stay in the game indefinitely.

People who love athletics can work in areas as diverse as medicine, management, marketing, manufacturing and many other sports-occupational areas. Prospects are increasing as more people play and watch sports. With the explosion of sports for women and girls, entire industries have sprung up, such as women’s clothing and equipment. In other careers–like sports journalism and sports administration and sports training–opportunities for women to participate in previously male-dominated have, if not leveled the playing field, at least greatly expanded it.

There are over six million jobs in sports-related careers, according to Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women’s Sports Foundation. While many of these jobs take special education and training, entry-level positions exist for young men and women willing to work their way up.

Careers in sports take many forms. While many young athletes dream of making it to the professional ranks, the reality is that very few make it that far. In other sports-related careers the news is more encouraging. From educators to architects, facilities managers to fitness instructors, physical therapists to professional athletes, there are positions to fill.

Below is a sample of jobs with suggested education and/or training requirements for breaking into the field.

Sports Journalist

Sports journalists report on the news of the sports world to the public. A four-year degree in journalism and/or equivalent writing experience is recommended. Job opportunities exist in newspapers and magazines, radio, and television. Most beginning journalists begin as interns on college newspapers, radio, or television stations or as general reporters on small-town newspapers. Curiosity, writing, and interviewing skills and the ability to work within deadlines are characteristics of successful journalists.

College Coach

College and university coaches are responsible for getting athletic teams ready to play in competition. In smaller colleges they may coach several sports, while in larger institutions they are mainly responsible for just one team. Duties include recruiting players, developing game strategies, and teaching skills. Most college coaching positions require a minimum of four years of college. A typical career path might begin as an athlete, followed by becoming an assistant coach at the high school or college level.

Exercise Physiologist

An exercise physiologist studies how the stress of exercise affects the body. The most common areas in which exercise physiologists work are prevention–teaching healthy lifestyle habits–and rehabilitation–helping to restore function following an accident or debilitating illness. They may manage a wellness center, teach, or conduct research. Most jobs require a minimum of a master’s degree with an expertise in exercise physiology

Sports Agent

A sports agent acts as a professional athlete’s representative in negotiating contracts, salaries, endorsements, and other business arrangements. Education includes a four-year college degree in business or a related major, often followed by a law degree. Negotiating skills, sales ability, and ability to work under stressful conditions are all traits of the successful sports agent.

Sports Official

A sports official is the field-of-play arbitrator of rules at an athletic event. The ability to make instantaneous decisions, resolve conflicts, and deal with stress and pressure, as well as the fitness level to keep up with the game are keys to success in this field. Men and women are needed to officiate in every sport and at every level from youth to professional leagues. Most people start by studying the rules of the sport and attending clinics, followed by officiating at youth and recreational levels. From there, dedicated officials can advance into high school and college sports. Officiating at the professional level is like playing in the pros—only a very few of the finest, most ambitious make it.

The areas with the most opportunities during the next five years are estimated to be new business development, sports apparel, internet marketing, coaching and athletic administration, and officiating.

Tips to getting started in a sports career:

• Assess your skills and determine how to translate them into a career in sports.

• Set goals. Think about what interests you and what you have to offer. Career planning is a process.

• Seek the advice of guidance counselors and do career research to create an educational program to fit your needs.

• Follow the educational or training plan you’ve developed.

• Get experience. Internships, work-study, part-time and summer jobs, and volunteering can help you prepare for a career and allow employers to assess your talents.

• Enter the job market, looking for entry-level positions or jobs that match your experience and that can be paths to your career goal.

• Network. Join professional organizations, attend conferences, volunteer for leadership positions. Seek a mentor—someone who can assist you on your career path.

While it’s not enough just to love a particular sport or sports in general, your passion can help you chose a career that combines business and pleasure.

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Sidebar:

Sports-Related Careers

Massage therapy

Physical education/coaching

Physical recreation

Public relations

Retail sales of sporting goods products

Sports administration

Sports architecture

Sports broadcasting

Sports equipment management and maintenance

Sports facilities management and maintenance

Sports information

Sports journalism

Sports law

Sports management

Sports marketing

Sports medicine

Sports nutrition

Sports photography

Sports promotion

Sports psychology

Careers also exist as:

Acupuncturists

Clothing designers

Curators in sports museums

Equipment designers

Historians

Officials and referees

Personal trainers

Physical therapists

Professional athletes

Professional or college scouts

Sports officials

Statisticians

Web-site designers

End sidebar



David