Sometimes people are under the impression that everyone in the sports industry is making lots of money. Parents sometimes believe youth sports organizations are pocketing every cent, some college students think that athletic departments have bottomless funds for recruiting, and some fans believe that their ticket sale alone is what feeds the athlete they admire.The reality of the situation is that like every other industry, the sports industry is always looking for creative ways to make money too. Whether it is seeking sponsorships, donors, alumni funds, or profits from a car wash, sports aren't cheap lets face it. It takes a lot of cash to fuel any sports program no matter the age, location, or level.
At the present moment I face this same position working in youth sports. In order to field a functioning youth lacrosse team, I have been working at a gym to pay for coaches, fields, equipment, etc. Yes players are paying fees however the fees are not substantial enough to cover every start-up cost for an emerging youth sports business.
Some coaches at the colleg
iate level are facing this battle everyday. A big part of their job may in fact be trying to recruit and train a team while simultaneously finding the funds to do so. In an odd way it may appear to be a counterproductive position, working on raising funds to again work some more at recruiting and fielding a team.College coaches may see such skill similarities within their jobs by using the talents gained from recruiting and applying them to fund-raising initiatives. Skills like; researching prospects, having constant communication with prospects, establishing personal relationships, and retaining interest are all steps in order to recruit a player to sign a letter of intent, or having a donor sign a check.
One thing is sure, having the ability to raise funds in necessary for every Sports Management Professional no matter if it is for my 6th-8th grade girls team, or the marketing manager of the Phoenix Suns.
No comments:
Post a Comment