If you have an interest in sports, there are many more careers that are open to you than being an athlete or sportsman or woman. In fact, there are many jobs that need to be done behind the scenes that help sports professionals – and non-professionals – to get the most out of the sport that they are doing, both in terms of their performance and their personal goals.

With a degree in sports, you are well-placed to go into a variety of different sports careers, giving you the opportunity to do something that you have a passion for as well as something that will make a difference in people’s lives.

Having studied for a sports degree you can look at where your interests lie in the area and either now pursue a career in this or study a little more to be able to have the career of your dreams. If you have spent the last few years studying for a degree in sports, here are some ideas of the kind of careers that are open to you:

Sports Equipment Specialist
Having the right equipment is important for everyone who is doing sports – from the top Olympic athletes to amateurs, people looking to lose weight or those who are wanting to stay fit. Having the best sports equipment allows them to perform at their best while staying comfortable and free from injury.

With a sports degree, you can work to create the best sports equipment possible and make this available to people who are doing sport.

Sports equipment can range from high-tech machinery to accessories like balls and bats, to the fundamentals like sports clothing. Getting the right sports clothing is very important to sportsmen and women as tennis specialists, Wigmore, explain, “The fit and comfort of footwear is a vital but often overlooked factor for ensuring optimal performance on the court.”

Sports Therapist
A sports therapist works in a similar way to a physiotherapist but only in the context of the world of sport. You would be helping people who have sports injuries, helping with rehabilitation and advising on injury prevention, and working with professional and non-professional sportsmen and women.

Most sports therapists work as part of a team, often in specific sports injury clinics or at sports clubs or gyms.

Working in sports therapy can be hard work, but also very rewarding as you see your clients getting back to peak fitness and giving their best performances.

Sports Physiologist
A sports physiologist has an in-depth knowledge of how the body works and responds on a physical level to sport and movement. You will have a good understanding of functions such as muscles, the respiration system, and metabolism.

Sports physiologists can often work in a team for health services, sports clubs and gyms or individual, private clients. Some decide to specialise in certain (often chronic) illnesses and look at the physical impact of sport on these health problems.

The role of a sports physiologist is very science-based and involves applying your scientific knowledge to real-life situations.

Sports Development Officer
A sports development officer is the person that organises projects both in communities as well as for clubs, charities, and schools, to help people to engage more with sport. For this job, you will need to have a passion for sport, good imagination and people skills, organisation, communication, and motivational skills.

Sports development is an area where we would always like to be seeing more investment but you would typically be employed by local authorities or higher education institutions.

Sports Teacher
When it comes to inspiring the next generation of sportsmen and women – and keeping the country fit and healthy, our sports teachers are of the utmost importance. The influence of sports teachers at school can be massive for children and igniting a passion for sports is fundamental.

As a sports teacher, you will be responsible for all aspects of children’s sporting developments – from raising interest in all kinds of sports, promoting the enjoyment of sport, to training the young sports stars of the future.

To become a sports teacher, you will normally need to study for a PGCE after your sports degree – which is usually a one year course. With this, you will be able to work in both state schools and private schools.

There are many career paths open to you if you have studied for a sports degree. This means that you still have the flexibility to study what you are passionate about within an area that you already love – and that, for many, is priceless.