It is difficult to list the number of professions linked to sport. The industry includes marketing, event management, leadership, coaching, law, communication, health, finance, and many more. In one sport organization alone, you will find several different skill sets required to build an effective management team.

Sport attracts people. It is that simple. Youth that engage in sport find it to be challenging, dynamic, and rewarding. It is logical therefore that those who grow up with sport and competition in their hearts want to continue to be connected to sport. The challenge for young people today is to develop the management skills required to find a job within the competitive sports industry.

It is very clear that sport management education is inadequate in Spain and in many other parts of the world. It is also clear that the gap between the academic world and the sport world in Europe does not serve youth well. Our academic institutions need to recognize that the sport industry and related services is a major international industry that requires trained professionals. Up until now, the academic world has been slow to respond to that demand.

Many universities offer physical education courses so that young people can become teachers of sport and exercise. This is not new to Spain. However, very few credible organizations offer sport management courses. Of course, each country must offer its own style of education under the laws of education. I would like to see Spain offer more dynamic, practical, and innovative programs. Quite frankly, this is difficult under the current restrictive system. The academic world must adapt more quickly to the demands of the student population and to the needs of the business sector.

What is most important is that young people see learning as a life-long process. We tend to think that we are done with our education after 16, 18, or 21 years old. This is a mistake that forces us to miss out on opportunities as we grow older. I would recommend to young people that they seek new opportunities to learn regardless of the level that they have achieved.

I would suggest that sport clubs, businesses, or federations will require more skilled business managers. They will also need to employ people who can contribute to the organization with proven skills. If you look at FC Barcelona, for example, you will find that the new sport leadership will be well-educated, internationally experienced workers. It is no longer enough to want a job in sport, you must be skilled, and therefore well-educated, to find employment.

I see a few qualities as being essential to gain employment in the sport industry. People will need to be well-educated, flexible, dynamic, innovative, and versatile. The demands of the sport industry will change and those who have the ability to learn throughout their life can adapt well to that change. Of course, carrying a positive attitude into challenging circumstances allows people to embrace change and respond professionally to it.

I would say that each title can offer a person an opportunity. It is not as critical which field of interest one has as it is that they excel in the path they choose. Success will come to those who are passionate about what they do and who take the necessary steps to educate themselves. There will be opportunity in education, training, management, marketing, and health for those who demonstrate that they are the best at what they enjoy doing. All courses of study can lead to success if the student makes a full commitment.

Finding a job in the sport industry is very difficult. As we see in every other sector, the sport-related business will be challenged to spend less and offer more. That means that those in leadership positions will expect that future employees be capable of working efficiently and positively within teams. We will see sport management and business management in general blending together. We will also see young people with varied academic degrees competing for the same job.

As I mentioned above, sport organizations will have to be more efficient to survive in the future. Technology is one answer to improve efficiency and therefore skilled technology professions will be critical to every business, club, federation, or sport organization. Sport is not unique to this. As we have seen throughout history, technology and sport advance together. There is not one sector of the sport market that is not affected by the latest innovations.

I would suggest to every young person that they embrace the learning process. A person that is open to learning, to improving themselves, to acquiring more skills will have greater opportunity. Young people who choose to abandon their studies will suffer for that decision. Learn a new language, improve your computer skills, study what inspires you, find a mentor from whom you can learn. Again, passion alone will not provide you with tangible opportunities. You must add to passion the skills you will need to be effective.