Sports development officer
Sports development officers organise projects and training to encourage people to take part in sport and have a healthier lifestyle.
Salary range: £21,000 to £50,000
How to become a sports development officer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- volunteering
- applying directly
University
You’ll find it useful to have a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a related subject like:
- sports development
- sports coaching
- sports science
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
Apprenticeship
You can work towards this role by starting with an advanced apprenticeship as a community sport and health officer.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
More information
Volunteering and experience
You can get useful experience by playing sports, volunteering as a coach, helping out on community and holiday sports schemes, or working with a local sports club.
This can help to build up your confidence and may lead to getting professional coaching qualifications.
Direct application
You can apply directly for jobs if you’ve got some of the relevant skills and knowledge needed for this role, for example through coaching qualifications.
More information
Career tips
There’s a lot of competition for jobs, so networking and making contacts will give you more chance of finding work.
Further information
You can find out more about careers in sport from The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
UK Coaching has more on how to get coaching qualifications in any sport.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to work well with others
- sensitivity and understanding
- leadership skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work on your own
- knowledge of English language
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- finding and training staff, coaches and volunteers for projects
- promoting and running projects and activities
- monitoring and evaluating projects
- finding funding, managing resources and budgets
- putting local and national policies into practice
- attending meetings, seminars and conferences
- coaching or supervising sport
Working environment
You could work in an office, at a school, on a sports field, at a fitness centre or at a college.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.
Career path and progression
With experience you could become a sports development manager or a regional manager.