Kinesiology Careers

Sport Management

• Professional teams and leagues, e.g. NFL, MLB
• Professional athletes
• Professional player associations and unions
• Sport associations, e.g. PGA Tour
• Conference offices, e.g. SEC, ACC
• Governing bodies
• Colleges and universities
• Arenas
• Auditoriums
• Stadiums
• Golf courses
• Tracks
• High schools
• Youth sport programs
• Sport related franchises
• Training centers
• Sport camps
• Health and fitness clubs
• Recreational facilities
• Local sport and tourism corporations
• Sport marketing firms
• Sport management firms

• Major in sport management or sport administration. Earn a master’s degree for increased opportunities.
• Develop outstanding communication skills, written and oral.
• Take courses in marketing, public relations, and advertising. Hone public speaking skills.
• For player representation, pursue a degree in law to aid in negotiating contracts and financial planning.
• Obtain accounting or business skills and experience. Develop a background in sales.
• Volunteer to coordinate athletic programs and events such as marathons, golf tournaments, or Special Olympics for campus organizations or local non-profit groups.
• Get involved with campus sport teams, intramurals, or recreational programs.
• Build a network of contacts with sport administrators, student athletes, and merchandise representatives.
• Join sport-oriented associations and organizations.
• Obtain an internship or part-time job with a team, an athletic organization, or a sport facility.
• Be willing to work in any capacity with minor league or local teams as a way to enter the field and gain experience.

Sporting Goods / Sport Merchandising

• Sport equipment and supply industry, e.g. Wilson, Spalding, Adidas
• Exercise equipment manufacturers
• Sport and recreation retailers
• Online sport retailers
• Sporting Goods Manufacturer’s Association

• Work in retail stores that sell sport or recreational merchandise or in campus recreation facilities that rent equipment to students.
• Gain sales experience through part-time or summer jobs and internships.
• Volunteer as a team equipment manager.
• Make contact with college equipment or uniform representatives.
• Develop strong communication skills and learn how to build interpersonal relationships.

Sport Media

• Newspapers
• Television stations
• Radio stations
• Magazines
• Special interest sport publications
• Sport-related internet sites

• Major in journalism, broadcasting, electronic media, photography, or English.
• Supplement program with courses in sport management or physical education.
• Obtain an internship or part-time job with local or university newspaper or radio/television station.
• Publish, as much as possible, in college and local newspapers.
• Create a portfolio of published work, both articles and photographs, or an online portfolio highlighting digital media skills.
• Develop excellent public speaking and writing skills and a solid command of sports.

Exercise Science

• Colleges and universities
• Public and private schools
• Sport medicine centers
• Hospitals and rehabilitation clinics
• Health clubs and fitness centers
• Professional teams
• Corporate health centers
• Professional fitness organizations such as:
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association
• Olympic training centers
• Competitive youth training centers
• Nutritional supplement manufacturers

• Major in exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology, or sport medicine.
• Supplement curriculum with nutrition and hard science courses.
• Consider professional or graduate school in physical therapy, athletic training, or medicine.
• Obtain necessary certification such as Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer, or National Athletic Trainer Certification.
  • Other certifications can be granted by the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
• Develop computer skills and familiarity with technology used in the field.
• Work in a physical therapy clinic, health club, or gym to gain experience and make contacts.
• Volunteer to work with college or high school sport teams or to run exercise programs for local, non-profit organizations.
• Consider working with manufacturers of exercise equipment or nutritional supplements to learn more about the field and to make contacts.
• Develop excellent interpersonal skills for working with clients, coaches, and team physicians.
• Maintain excellent personal fitness and athletic proficiency.

Physical Education

• Public and private schools, K-12
• Colleges and universities

• Obtain a degree in education, physical education, or other sport related field in addition to appropriate state teacher licensure. Earn dual certification for increased job opportunities.
• Become familiar with a variety of physical, cognitive, and affective disabilities if interested in an adaptive physical education career. Supplement coursework with special education classes.
• Secure a part-time position with a youth recreation center, college athletic facility, or intramural athletic administration department.
• Develop competitive and instructive proficiency in a wide array of sports.
• Obtain a graduate degree to teach at the college level or to advance into administrative positions. Secure a graduate assistantship teaching physical education courses.

Coaching

• Professional sport teams
• Colleges and universities
• High schools and middle schools
• Recreational organizations or leagues, e.g. YMCA
• Country clubs
• Racket clubs
• Gyms
• Tracks
• Ice rinks
• Golf and tennis resorts
• City parks and recreation departments
• Youth sport organizations, e.g. Little League Baseball
• Sport related franchises
• Sport camps

• Major in exercise science, sport management, or physical education, although coaches can hold nearly any academic background.
• Obtain teacher licensure in an academic subject for high school or middle school coaching positions.
• Gain extensive, advanced playing experience.
• Research coaching certifications in various sports.
• Develop additional knowledge in areas of strength training, fitness, nutrition, and conditioning.
• Learn about and practice motivational techniques.
• Become familiar with legal and regulatory issues related to coaching, e.g. NCAA regulations.
• Volunteer to coach neighborhood, church, and community teams.
• Attend practices of teams at various levels to observe coaches’ techniques.
• Serve as a referee or umpire.
• Seek a graduate assistant position in athletic administration, instruction, or coaching.
• Obtain an assistant and then head coaching position at the university level to increase possibility of progressing to the professional level.

Officiating

• Professional sport leagues
• College and university athletic associations
• Amateur athletic associations, e.g. United States Tennis Association
• High school athletic associations
• Recreational leagues

• Volunteer to umpire youth or Little League games.
• Work as a referee for campus intramurals.
• Be prepared to maintain full-time employment in addition to refereeing while you get started. It takes time to build a career in refereeing.
• Join sport associations and organizations to stay current on developments in the field and to make contacts. Attend classes, seminars, camps, and workshops sponsored by these organizations.
• Obtain certification to officiate in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) games.
• Attend an umpire training school or camp for professional opportunities.
• Obtain the required ten years of collegiate football refereeing experience before applying to The National Football League (NFL).
• Earn the Professional Football Referees Association licensure or other applicable credential.

Sport Psychology

• Colleges and universities
• Olympic training centers
• Competitive youth sport centers
• Recreation organizations and leagues
• Professional sport teams
• Professional and competitive athletes
• Hospitals

• Major in psychology, physical education, exercise science, or other physical activity related field.
• Obtain a doctoral degree in sport psychology, sport sociology, or clinical/counseling psychology and complete postdoctoral training if you desire to work with professional sport teams or athletes.
• Develop good relationships with coaches and other athletic department personnel. Express a willingness to learn from coaches and athletes.
• Gain experience in a variety of different sports.
• Assist faculty with research.
• Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
• Consider coaching youth teams.
• Develop social perceptiveness and active listening skills to use when working with athletes.
• Join professional associations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 (Sport and Exercise Psychology) or the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP).

Exercise and Health Psychology

• Colleges and universities
• Hospitals
• Health clubs and fitness centers
• Olympic training centers
• Rehabilitation clinics
• Public health agencies

• Major in one of the social sciences and supplement coursework with hard science classes.
• Acquire training in the areas of research, grant-writing, and statistics.
• Volunteer in a hospital or fitness center.
• Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
• Learn to work well in a team environment.
• Earn a graduate degree in clinical, counseling, social, or experimental psychology for health psychology opportunities.
• Earn a graduate degree in sport psychology, with an exercise emphasis, for a career in exercise psychology.
• Pursue a postdoctoral internship or fellowship for advanced career opportunities.