Sports leagues are groups of teams or individual athletes who compete head-to-head against one another to eventually crown a champion. Leagues can range from youth sports to amateur athletics and professional clubs in virtually every sport imaginable. Like any other kind of sports organization, leagues need governance to function properly. That’s precisely where league administrators come into the picture. League administrators are upper-level sports managers who are held personally liable for coordinating the operations of their entire league. League administrators work as key management team leaders to ensure compliance with rules governing the sport. Administrators have the final say in organizing and scheduling games for league’s games while staying within their established budget.
Related Resource: What are the Different Types of Sports Medicine Jobs?
Salary
According to the BLS, administrators employed in the United States across all sectors earn a mean yearly salary of $92,250, which could be equated to an average hourly wage of $44.35. In particular, administrators employed in the spectator sports industry like league administrators bring home slightly less with an average income of $91,130 each year.
Beginning Salary
When first starting out, league administrators may land in the bottom tenth percentile of earnings with a yearly salary around $45,590. Some new league administrators may even fulfill voluntary positions in sports organizations with only small stipends. However, it’s important to note that experienced league administrators can advance into bigger leagues to earn upwards of $149,180 annually.
Key Responsibilities
League administrators are given the hefty responsibility of making certain everything that happens on and off the field in their league goes smoothly. With a focus on the business side of sports, league administrators reign over the organization, planning, and execution of all league competitions. On a typical day, league administrators may be involved in creating league format guidelines, devising team qualifications, scheduling games, forming financial goals, attracting qualified head coaches, promoting their league, reporting issues to governing boards, managing drafts, maintaining records of game stats, and planning the end-of-season tournament. League administrators work the entire season to provide overall strategic direction for the sports clubs.
Necessary Skills
Being successful as a league administrator will require that you fine-tune your leadership skills to manage every component of league play. Good interpersonal skills are essential because league administrators routinely communicate with coaches, players, general managers, sports governing agencies, and even the public. Some league administrators will act as spokespeople within their sport, so public speaking is a good skill. League administrators should be detail-oriented with good organizational skills to effectively maintain accurate sports data with confidentiality. Analytical abilities are important for administrators to carefully balance their league’s finances. League administrators must also have excellent time management to stay ahead of planning deadlines and schedule competitions.
Degree and Education Requirements
Before you can leap into a career in league administration, you’ll likely need to obtain at least a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. Aspiring league administrators can major in anything, but coursework in sports management, business administration, management, finance, accounting, marketing, communications, and organizational leadership will be most handy. If available, make certain you take courses related to athletics or league administration to fully understand the details that go into leading sports clubs behind the scenes. Going the extra step to obtain a master’s degree in sports management or a sports-based MBA can be wise for unlocking senior-level administrative roles in professional leagues too.
Pros and Cons of the Position
As with any other sports career, working as league administrator will have plenty of rewards and challenges that you should be aware of now. On the sunny side, league administrators have the unique chance to engage in the fast-paced sports business world and harness their passion for athletics. League administrators wear many hats in coordinating their league’s activities, so boredom won’t set in. There’s also a high salary potential that can grow as administrators advance into professional sports. Being invited to all of the league’s games is another upside that sports fans will adore. However, league administrators face a tremendous amount of responsibility, which can lead to overwhelming stress for some. Being involved in the drama of league violations and issuing team or player penalties can be difficult. League administrators work long hours well beyond the nine-to-five job, including on weekends and holidays.
Getting Started
Becoming league administrator won’t happen overnight. You’ll first have to pay your dues in lower-level sports jobs and work up in the ranks to administration. While obtaining your college education, it’s best to start bulking up your resume with real-world work experience. Internships will help you practice your learned skills and form relationships with sports clubs. Working in your university’s athletics department is also helpful to learn exactly how game dynamics work. After graduation, you can start looking for entry to mid-level sports management jobs. Even though you may want to work in the major leagues, starting in the minors first can help. Most administrators will need at least five years of experience. League administrators typically aren’t certified, but if you’re looking to work with children’s leagues, you should become a member of the National Youth Sports Administrators Association( (NYSAA).
Future Outlook
League administration is an exciting field because there’s a wide variety of sports clubs available for you to lead. Sports are among America’s favorite pastimes and their popularity doesn’t seem to be dwindling anytime soon. According to Statista, sports market revenue is expected to rise past $145 billion this year globally. Hiring qualified league administrators who can capitalize on this revenue and keep fans engaged in sporting competitions is essential. Aspiring league administrators will face heated competition for this upper-level role though, especially as sports management degrees become more widespread. Novices should gain plenty of experience to market themselves. Job prospects can be found by administrators in youth, amateur, collegiate, minor, and major professional sporting leagues.
Overall, having a successful career in sports doesn’t always mean lacing up your sneakers and hitting the field. Even if you lack athletic talent, you can turn your passion for sports into power for coordinating the schedules, budgets, policies, and communication of sports leagues. League administration is a dynamic management niche focused on creating positive experiences for players, teams, coaches, and fans in a certain league. If you make the decision to become a league administrator, you’ll hold the cards in designating all of the sports policies and procedures upheld by the sports clubs for friendly, safe competition.
Related Resources:
