How to Transform Your Fantasy Sports Passion into a Career

Do you have a passion for fantasy sports? You may be surprised to learn that you can turn this passion, and the skills obtained, into a successful career. In fact, there is a huge variety of different jobs related to sports for non-athletes and plenty of roles in the sports sector that are suited to all kinds of skills and abilities. To give you some inspiration, here are ten great career choices for people who love playing fantasy sports.

1. Sports Coach  

If you play fantasy sports, you will have experience assembling virtual teams of real players of a professional sport. These skills could be applied to sports coaching in several ways. There are coaching opportunities across all levels – from high school all the way to professional level. Coaches act as a team leader and are responsible for training athletes to be successful at their sport, preparing them for competitions, and mentoring them through games. Most people become coaches because they want to combine their passion for a sport they once played, with their love of teaching. Many people start out as assistant coaches and then progress to head coaches with the right level of experience.  

2. Talent Scout

It may seem surprising, but you don’t actually need a professional playing background in order to be a talent scout. In fact, a bachelor’s degree in statistics could be viewed just as relevant as a 10-year professional playing career. People who play fantasy sports gain experience analyzing statistics, evaluating talent, and making decisions on player and team abilities. Sports scouts are responsible for watching and evaluating athletes perform at a range of different levels – from high school and college, all the way to professional levels – to determine the talent and style of the players. They also view recorded footage, monitor sports reports, and analyze sports statistics to evaluate players potential. You can learn more about the role of a sports scout online.

3. Personal Trainer

For anyone who enjoys staying active and working out, becoming a personal trainer can offer a lucrative career with the opportunity to get paid for doing something you love. Personal trainers help people lead healthier lives by creating exercise plans and then supporting and motivating people to meet their fitness goals. Another benefit of becoming a personal trainer, is they have the option to work independently and enjoy the freedom of choosing their own work schedule.

4. Fitness Tutor

Fitness tutors are responsible for passing on their skills and knowledge by training the next generation of fitness professionals. They usually work for training providers or colleges, where they teach and assess various vocational qualifications. If you have a passion for sports and want to help others achieve their dreams of working in the fitness profession, then check out this Teaching Course from OriGym and you could become a qualified fitness tutor.

5. Sports Physical Therapist

Sports physical therapists work in a variety of settings and provide health and rehabilitative services to athletes and individuals suffering from sport-related injuries. They are responsible for diagnosing illnesses, designing appropriate treatment plans, and providing therapeutic services. To become a sports therapist, you must usually obtain a postgraduate professional degree and then become licensed through the state where you want to practice. Sports therapy offers attractive salaries, with the average salary being almost $90,000 per year.

6. Fitness Manager

Fitness managers are responsible for many different parts of a gym or fitness club. Their role is to ensure that everything is organized and runs smoothly. The duties of a fitness manager can vary widely and include everything from administration, to arranging personal trainers and dealing with issues between clients. Many fitness managers start their careers as personal trainers by obtaining a personal training certification from an accredited organization. Being a fitness manager also requires administrative skills, so completing businesses courses can give you a competitive edge and help you secure the best roles.

7. Sports Writer

Sports writers keep people up-to-date on the latest sports news and provide opinions on different aspects of whatever sports topic they are writing about. Popular topics for sports writers include – gameplay predictions, coaching, and individual players. Sports writers can either apply for writing jobs with newspapers or, more commonly, write on a freelance basis. Most jobs require a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism, but the best way to secure work is to make connections in the industry and gain experience through voluntary work, for example, by completing an internship at a local newspaper.

8. Sporting Coordinator

A sporting coordinator is responsible for planning, hosting, and promoting a range of sporting events. The role can involve meeting with athletes representatives, arranging transportation and accommodation, planning the event schedule, organizing security and equipment, and ensuring that the event runs smoothly and according to plan. To secure a role as a sporting coordinator, you will usually need a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and some relevant work experience. If you want to set yourself apart from the competition, then you should consider obtaining the Certified Meeting Planner certification through the Convention Industry Council. Research has found that certified planners make $10,000 more a yearwhen compared to those who are non-certified.

9. Sports Psychologist  

Sports psychologists are professionals who help to improve the mental wellbeing of individuals through the use of various sports-centered techniques. They can help athletes, and other individuals improve their performance and can also treat a range of mental health problems such as performance anxiety, low self-esteem, stress, and depression. Sports psychologists tend to be certified psychologists with a postgraduate doctorate, who have then specialized in sports psychology.

10. Sports Photographer

Becoming a sports photographer is a great career option for anyone who has a passion for both sport and photography. A sports photographer is a photojournalist who specializes in sporting events. They are responsible for documenting these events by capturing action shots, which can then be used alongside sports articles. The photography they produce is extremely important, as audiences often rely on pictures to understand what happened at sporting events. Studying a bachelors degree in photography will definitely help you secure a role in sports photography, but the most important thing is to have a genuine interest in sports and be able to demonstrate creative photography skills by building a portfolio of your work.

Geoff Lambert

Geoff has been playing fantasy football since 1996 and covering it professionally since 2015. In addition to being the founder of GoingFor2.com and The Armchair Fantasy Show, Geoff has contributed to FantasyPros, FantasyLife, and the now-defunct RotoWriters, while also appearing on a multitude of fantasy podcasts. Geoff's favorite professional teams are the 49ers, the Pelicans and the Nationals.

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