What is the sports market?
In France, the sports market is worth €38.1 billion. That is almost 2% of the country's gross domestic product. Growing for nine consecutive years, the sports market and the development of clubs show no sign of slowing down. The sector owes its success above all to the French appetite for physical and sporting activity: more than 32% of them take part in a sporting activity at least once a week.
To pursue their hobby, some of them decide to join dedicated organisations, such as sports clubs. It is estimated that there are more than 16,000 affiliated to approved French federations. The most numerous are, of course, football clubs, followed by basketball, tennis, pétanque, karate, judo, cycling and athletics clubs.
The private sports sector, which includes sports clubs, employs more than a hundred thousand people, more than half of whom work in a sports club. They are relatively young: nearly 70% of them are under 45. While sport is still a very male-dominated field, the gender balance among club employees is fairly positive, with 46% of these roles held by women.
What does a sports club manager do?
The tasks of a sports club manager can vary considerably depending on the size of the organisation they work for. At every level, they handle the management of their sports club and organise events as part of that role. Their main aim is to drive economic development and raise the profile of their sports organisation, within the constraints of sporting results and a set budget. They are therefore also responsible for the administrative management of the association. In addition, they manage logistics, the upkeep and cleanliness of the club in question, keeping a constant eye on the general condition of the premises and its equipment.
The sports club manager handles contact with the professionals around them. Partners, sponsors, institutional representatives, teams : internally and externally, they coordinate relations with all their various partners. This management specialist is, among other things, a team leader and also a recruiter.
Indeed, this sports professional sets the recruitment strategy for the sporting, technical, administrative and medical staff, then supervises them to ensure they work together smoothly, helping to draw up their schedules.
The essential qualities and skills of a sports club manager
- Knowledge and understanding of the sports world
- Administrative, legal and commercial management
- Team management and human resources
- Leadership and a sense of responsibility
Salary and career prospects
The pay of a manager of sports organisations can vary considerably depending on a number of factors. The size of the association, the organisation's ambitions, the sport concerned (football, rugby, etc.), the level of qualification, amateur or professional club: the day-to-day work and the salary of club managers can be very different depending on each of these criteria.
It is estimated that a sports club manager can expect a minimum salary of €20,000 gross per year, or around €1,600 net per month, but the salary can be far higher when working for a major club or a professional sports organisation.
After a few years in the role, a sports club manager can hope to move up to the general management of their organisation.
Which programme should you take to become a sports club manager?
The role of sports club manager is not open to just anyone. It calls for a high degree of professional experience. It is above all open to people who have already worked in the sports world as a coach or player (elite athletes). To work in this profession, you therefore needat least five years of professional experience, and you must hold a sports instructor certificate and a university diploma in general club management. Players and coaches working in professional sport (professional leagues, national sports federations) can also turn to programmes such as an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in sports management. You can also go through the intermediate role of assistant sports club manager before reaching your goal.
If you are a young student who dreams of stepping into a sports club manager role as soon as you finish your studies, that is possible, but only in an amateur sports club. To do so, you will need to complete a three-year degree course, at level II (a STAPS degree or a bachelor's in sports management), followed by a five-year qualification or even a six-year, level I qualification in sport business (specialist master's in sport business etc…)
