How can you stay informed about sports industry trends during a career transition?

If you are in the process of changing your career path or looking for new opportunities in sports management, you might feel overwhelmed by the fast-paced and dynamic nature of the sports industry. How can you keep up with the latest trends, innovations, and best practices that affect your field of interest? In this article, we will share some tips and resources that can help you stay informed and relevant during your career transition.

1 Follow industry news

One of the easiest ways to stay updated on sports industry trends is to follow reliable and reputable sources of news and analysis. You can subscribe to newsletters, podcasts, blogs, magazines, or social media accounts that cover topics such as sports business, marketing, media, law, technology, or governance. Some examples of popular and credible outlets are Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, Sportico, SportsPro, The Athletic, and Forbes SportsMoney. You can also use tools like Google Alerts or Feedly to customize and organize your news feed according to your preferences and interests.

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2 Join professional associations

Another way to stay informed and connected during your career transition is to join professional associations that cater to sports management professionals. These associations can offer you access to exclusive events, webinars, publications, research, networking, mentoring, or job opportunities. You can also learn from the experiences and insights of other members who work in different sectors and levels of the sports industry. Some examples of well-known and respected associations are North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), European Association for Sport Management (EASM), Sport Marketing Association (SMA), and Women in Sports and Events (WISE).

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Emily Copperud

MBA | Partnership marketing & brand strategy | Sports, tech & entertainment
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Joining professional associations builds your networks and keeps you informed. Even without specifics, you'll gain contacts (with a little work) in a wide variety of areas, and especially if you aren't asking for anything besides a conversation, will typically be willing and sometimes eager to discuss what they're working on and interested in, in broad terms.

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3 Attend online courses

If you want to deepen your knowledge and skills in specific areas of sports management, you can also enroll in online courses that are relevant to your career goals. Online courses can help you refresh your existing competencies, learn new concepts and tools, or earn certifications that can boost your resume and credibility. You can find a variety of online courses on platforms like Coursera, edX, Udemy, or Skillshare that cover topics such as sports analytics, sports psychology, sports media, sports law, or sports leadership. You can also look for courses offered by reputable universities or organizations that specialize in sports management education.

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4 Participate in online forums

Another way to stay informed and engaged during your career transition is to participate in online forums where you can interact with other sports management professionals or enthusiasts. Online forums can provide you with a platform to ask questions, share opinions, exchange ideas, or seek feedback on various aspects of the sports industry. You can also discover new trends, opportunities, or challenges that you might not be aware of otherwise. Some examples of active and diverse online forums are Reddit's r/sportsmanagement, Quora's Sports Management topic, LinkedIn's Sports Industry Network group, or Facebook's Sports Business Professionals group.

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Elchin Mammadov

AFFA Club Licensing Director | UEFA Venue Director ⚽ 16+ years of international experience | I talk on how Sports Enthusiasts can get into the industry
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Participation not only in online forums, but also physically will be even more effective. Real time communications are preferable in this case

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Victoria Fiander

Assessor in Horticulture & Sports Turf at Lackham college (Wiltshire College and university centre)
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Networking Attend Trade shows Visit other stadiums to see best practice. Share your experiences and knowledge Listen to podcasts Volunteer for match days

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R.Vidya Praveena Varghese

Jibi School of Sports|LLM (Contracts)|Sports Law|Mashreq|HSBC|Sports Management|Sports Counseling|Aeson Legal
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It is very important to learn and unlearn in one's career. Updates can be gathered from numerous sources but sports is a practical field and to know the nuances of Sports industry - as an athlete or a management professional, it is really important to stay close to your field and along sides learn about the adjacent source to it. Not one forum has every aspect covered in them, so reading and implementing are one of the all time best ways to test it, learn from these testing and get a feel of what is best suited as a profession for you. We had limited options but the current generation has many different options to choose from and of course make the best from all the available resources.

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5 Network with industry experts

Finally, one of the most effective ways to stay informed and relevant during your career transition is to network with industry experts who can offer you valuable advice, guidance, or referrals. You can reach out to people who work in the sectors, roles, or organizations that interest you and ask them for informational interviews, career tips, or recommendations. You can also follow their social media profiles, blogs, podcasts, or publications and learn from their perspectives and experiences. You can find and connect with industry experts on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Clubhouse, or Instagram, or through your existing contacts, alumni networks, or professional associations.

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Ángel J. Martínez López

Commercial and Partnerships Manager at World Football Summit | Football Industry | Sport Partnerships | PhD Sports Management
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Debes ir a eventos de la Industria del Deporte y asistir a sus charlas. Si identificas a un speaker interesante, no dudes en presentarte para darle la enhorabuena, expresar lo que más te ha gustado de la charla, etc. Después, continua la conversación a través de Linkedin para mantener la relación profesional.

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Ramón Olaso

Building my career in the sports industry with honesty.
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Connecting with the industry through platforms like LinkedIn, going to events like those organised by the World Football Summit and reading news like 2Playbook or Palco23. 'Cada maestrillo tiene su librillo' as we say in Spanish, but it works for me.

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Temisan Williams MSc, BSc

Coached professionally at 3 Premier League Academies and over 500+ Premier League Academy Players
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Ensuring that you network with personnel in your community is crucial, especially on a regular basis either locally, nationally and internationally.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you stay informed about sports industry trends during a career transition?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Follow industry news

2 Join professional associations

3 Attend online courses

4 Participate in online forums

5 Network with industry experts

6 Here’s what else to consider

Sports Management

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How can you stay informed about sports industry trends during a career transition?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Follow industry news

2 Join professional associations

3 Attend online courses

4 Participate in online forums

5 Network with industry experts

6 Here’s what else to consider

Sports Management

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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