Sports marketing consulting requires many marketing and media skills. Sports consultancy requires you to have extensive knowledge of sports and sports franchises, plus skills in business, marketing and management. A sports management consultancy deals with all these issues for their clients, usually teams and franchises.

To learn the skills necessary to be a sports consultant, consider the different educational opportunities available, as there are many training options. Training may be specific to business and marketing, or provide a general overview of all areas relevant to sports consulting. The most comprehensive and successful sports consultants education and training opportunities include:

1. A bachelor's degree program in sports management or sports marketing.

2. Internships with a sports management firm.

3. Continuing education opportunities for sports management consultants.

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Start your management consulting sports education with a bachelor's degree

To begin a career in sports management and consulting, attend a school that offers a bachelor's degree program in sports management, sports marketing or sports business. All of these concentrations focus on different aspects of the business side of professional sports teams. A degree program will prepare you for internships and entry-level positions.

I recommend: Barry University offers undergraduate and graduate courses in sports management. This program focuses on management skills for owning, operating and consulting collegiate and professional sports teams. Drexel University offers a sports management program that has four- and five-year options, with internship or co-op experience.

Find an internship with a sports management consultant firm

Most degree programs facilitate internship opportunities for students. Some programs even require an internship with a sports team or organization to meet graduation requirements. An internship will help you get real-world experience in sports management and consulting. You can choose to work directly with professional organizations, or work with consulting firms that help to manage teams.

I recommend: The National Basketball Association offers internship opportunities for college students in good standing who are studying a variety of sports-related majors, including sports marketing and management. The National Football League also provides summer and rotational internships for college students studying sports management.

Take part in continuing education opportunities for sports marketing consultants

Once you graduate from a sports management or sports marketing program, you are qualified for most entry-level job opportunities. But to ensure further success in sports management consulting, you must find continuing educational opportunities. This may include graduate school, but it could also mean training courses designed to teach consultants new skills.

I recommend: The Pro Sports Group offers training for a variety of sports-related careers, including sports agents, accounting and marketing for sports professionals. The Columbia University School of Continuing Education offers a master's program in sports management.

Sports marketing consulting firms are invaluable when your athletic business needs specialized talent or sports industry expertise. With vast resources, sports consultants offer management consulting, sports experience, industry knowledge and operational skills for athletes, teams and sports businesses.

Sports consulting firms help businesses and individuals implement new programs, develop strategic planning and refresh marketing initiatives. Sports management consultants increase productivity and efficiency by addressing essential issues, recognizing internal or external obstacles and providing specialized services to improve your organization.

Before beginning your search for sports marketing consultants, it is important to define your consulting needs. Clearly identify the goal of your sports management consultancy, including project scope, services needed, time frame and budget. This information will help you select the best sports business consultant to meet your specific needs.

When selecting a sports management consultant, research each firm and evaluate the following:

1. How much experience do the sports media consultants have in creating impactful solutions for your market?

2. What services do the sports management consulting firms provide to increase profitability and enhance marketing initiatives for your business?

3. How much should your business invest in sports consultancy services?

Action Steps
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Hire sports consultants that specialize in your market, sport or business type

Select sports management consultants who are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in your sport or business sector. Ask to see a list of past and present clients, and request references.

I recommend: Fuse specializes in youth marketing through sports, music, fashion and other youth cultural interests, and provides an online client list that includes national consumer brands and sports manufacturers. The Cohen Marketing Group offers an extensive list of sports consulting services and workshops designed specifically for the hockey industry. Exclusive Sports Marketing focuses on marketing for marathons, triathlons, beach volleyball competitions and family fitness events.

Choose sports marketing consulting firms with effective skills

Review the services provided by each sports management firm, and assess the firm's ability to provide creative solutions for your business. Evaluate each sports management consultancy's experience, qualifications and certifications, and request successful project examples of the specific skill sets you need.

I recommend: Octagon manages the careers of athletes with services like contract negotiations, marketing initiatives and endorsement programs, public relations and charity involvement, financial planning and asset management, television opportunities, event management and speaking engagements. American Sports Data provides sports participation and fitness research for corporations and sports industry businesses. Knox Sports helps corporate customers increase marketing results through the successful negotiation and activation of sports sponsorships.

Select sports management consultancy services that meet your budget

Many sports consulting firms utilize an hourly fee structure for project-based work, while others offer a retainer with special rates for long-term relationship clients. Your sport consultant cost will depend upon the scope of your services.

I recommend: Get a custom quote on golf tournament operation and management services at Executive Sports. Request a price estimate for planning, design and management of athletic facilities from The Sports Management Group.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure that it is written into your contract that the sports management consulting firm will not provide services to any competing athlete, team or business during the course of your business relationship.

Whether you're a professional athlete playing football, basketball, baseball or some other sport, it's important to know and understand sports consultants key terms. Since sports consultants help athletes to build, plan and guide their careers while providing services such as financial planning and contract negotiations, knowing as much as you can about what these services are will help you make informed decisions when it comes to your career.

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Contract negotiations

Contract negotiations are performed by a sports consultant who will help negotiate such things as salary, the length of the contract and other considerations.

I recommend: Visit Stealth Sports Management to learn how this sports consulting firm helps athletes with contract negotiations.

Marketing initiatives

Marketing initiatives involve all aspects of marketing an athlete or team to get their name known to the public. Many sports consultants create marketing campaigns that include advertisements on television and radio, print media and direct mail as part of their services. Marketing initiatives include endorsement deals with national companies to put an athlete's name and face on a variety of products from sports shoes and equipment to cereal boxes and trading cards.

I recommend: Learn about marketing initiatives and how sports consultants evaluate and create them for their clients at General Sports.

Skill enhancement

Skill enhancement is a service offered by many sports consultants in which they access and create a strength, conditioning, nutritional and psychological training program to help maximize their clients' professional success and extend their sports careers.

I recommend: Review the skill enhancement services offered by Professional Sports Consultants and see how they can help professional players be successful.

Legal advice and representation

When players have questions or concerns about legal matters, many sports consultants provide services that offer legal advice and representation to them. These services cover everything from lawsuits to helping players negotiate contracts, create wills or do estate planning.

I recommend: Read about the legal representation and advice services provided by John Hansen's Sports Consulting to understand how sports consultants assist players with legal issues and decisions.

Financial planning

Sports consultants help athletes with financial planning, enabling them to establish long-range goals. These services include cash management, budgeting and investment analysis to help athletes achieve long-term financial security for themselves and their families.

I recommend: Learn how sports consultants help players with financial planning at Jet Sports Management.

Post-career counseling

Sooner or later, every athlete needs to plan for the time when he or she won't be able to play anymore. Post-career counseling not only helps athletes plan for their financial futures, but also seek other employment opportunities once they retire from their sports careers.

I recommend: Go to ETL Associates to learn about their post-career counseling services.

Available to help businesses with their sporting program needs, sports management consulting agencies can be a valuable asset. They can offer sports planning, management and industry knowledge that can put your business above all other competitors.

Like any business, it's vital to pay attention to changes involving sports consulting firms. You don't want to be left in the dust while all others are improving their services thanks to changes within the industry. Consider the following when following sports consultants news and trends:

1. Search for online portals where you can learn about firsthand information regarding a sports management consultant business.

2. Locate publications geared toward sports consulting firms.

3. Attend conferences or seminars for sports media consultants.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stay current on changes to sports management consultant businesses through online sites

Although it can appear overwhelming to decipher all the information available online, find a few websites that cater specifically to the sports marketing consulting business and bookmark the sites. This way you can be reminded to check the sites daily for updates.

I recommend: Look to American Sports Data, which provides updated information on stats and research for athletes. This can assist you in your quest to provide the best management consulting sports information. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education has its own forum, where you can participate. Feel free to ask questions or post answers to others' questions.

Subscribe to periodicals that focus on sports consulting

Sports consulting publications are an ideal source for those in the business as it is an effective way to stay informed about any changes to the industry. Take responsibility and familiarize yourself with changes by reading these periodicals.

I recommend: Check out the Journal of Sport Management, which is published by the North American Society for Sport Management. SportsEvents Magazine, from Covey Communications, is another industry leader that provides readers with information for the sports media planner.

Attend conferences for those in the sports business consultant field

Certain conferences or seminars that are geared for the sports management industry can be an ideal place to look for news and trends in the industry. Whether there are industry leaders who plan to speak or booths with other sports management consultant members present, utilize this chance to mingle with others in the business.

I recommend: Consider attending the annual Sport Management Conference, where you can mingle with others in the industry and learn helpful tips on how to improve your business. Check out Sports Business Research Network and its calendar of upcoming events. You might find one that will occur nearby and interests you.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider joining an association or organization that focuses on sports management consultancy. Certain associations send e-mail newsletters to update members on changes to the industry.
• •  Check out MySpace or Facebook to network with other sports consultants. They can provide you with updates to the industry, whether in their region or nationally.