Getting your Bachelor’s in Sports and Recreation could turn out to be a very smart decision. This is one of the fastest growing and most interesting job fields out there. Students who study Sports and Recreation Management will be prepared for careers as professionals, collegiate professors, teachers, or sports coaches/organizers/mentors. The sports and recreation industry is worth close to $500 billion, and there are plenty of great jobs out there for recent graduates.
Features of the Program:
When studying sports and recreation, students are taught a variety of subjects in the classroom. Students will gain practical experience that will help them in the real world. They will undertake learning projects, real world case studies, and sports scenarios that are taking place around them.
Students will also get a first hand experience of how the sports world works, with the help of internships, job shadowing, networking with alums and prominent sports figures in the community, and through studying abroad.
What Will You Learn?
Students who study this degree are going to gain a broad understand of the sports world. Not only will they be capable of coaching most of these sports, but they will also be able to work in different job environments. Students will have a thorough understanding of the foundations of sports and recreation. They will also be great in a team environment, having gone through various exercises, projects, and jobs/internships that focus on group work.
Course Programs:
Foundation Courses –
These courses set the basis for the student’s study over a four year period. They will learn about the principles of management, an introduction into sports and wellness, and various physical education basics.
Sport-
Sport courses include, but are not limited to, sports officiating, coaching basketball, coaching volleyball, coaching softball/baseball, coaching track/field, coaching tennis, and coaching soccer. There are also courses on sports psychology and player mentality, which will help students understand the mindset of the students/players they coach or mentor in the future.
Wellness-
Wellness courses deal with subjects such as nutrition, first aid, preventing injuries to athletes, kinesiology, and the physiology of sport. Being a sports coach is about more than teaching kids how to throw a baseball or kick a soccer ball. Prospective coaches or intramural organizers need to know the basics of fitness, sports diets, and how to deal with any player injuries that may occur on the field/court.
Recreation-
Classes in the recreation section include sports lab, recreation leadership, intramural setup, and disabled recreation coaching. This section of the program combines the skills you learn in sports and wellness, and attempts to put them together in a fun and relaxed manner. Sport does not always have to be about competition or winning.
More information about a sample course curriculum can be found here .
The specific course load you take will depend on the college you attend to complete your program, but the core classes are the same everywhere. The purpose of a sports and recreation management degree is to prepare you for any type of career in the sports world. If you are a prospective player who might want to be a coach in the future, or an administrator who wants to work with/for a sports team, or you are a youth coaching enthusiast, this degree is perfect for you. Not only will you gain a deeper understanding of the sports you love, but you will better understand how to interact with and mentor other people.
Related Resources:
What Does A Sports Nutritionist Do?
