Sports centre management: what is it?

Managers who run sports facilities, such as sports centres and gyms, often have a very varied role within their organisation. Being in charge of a sports centre or venue, whether amateur or professional, public or private, means getting involved in issues related to finance, marketing, event organisation, human resources, and maintenance of the facility.

In this post, we'll take a closer look at what sports centre management is, the skills a sports manager needs, and some options for what to study if you're interested in launching your career in this sector, such as a Sports Management Degree in Madrid, an MBA In Sports Management, or an Executive MBA in Sports Management Online.

Where can a sports centre manager work?

A sports facility manager is responsible for carrying out all aspects of the planning, operation and coordination of any sports centre, whether public or private. With participation in sport becoming more and more popular as people become more aware of the importance of being in good health and spending more time on sport and leisure, every type of sports centre now has a sports manager position.

Some examples are:

• Gyms (public and private)
• Sports halls
• Sport clubs such as football, basketball, and tennis
• Athletic tracks
• Golf courses
• Swimming pools

What are the responsibilities of a sports manager?

Specific responsibilities vary depending on what type of organisation you are working in. However, being a manager of any sports centre requires you to do a number of tasks, such as some of those listed below:

• Administrative tasks, using systems and processes relevant to the organisation.
• Responding to queries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public
• Ensuring that administrative systems, processes and databases are efficient and well managed
• Organising meetings, training, coaching, festivals, conferences and other events
• Managing budgets, monitoring the finances allocated for community activities and, on occasion, coordinating sponsorships
• Producing promotional literature, reports and event materials
• Manage, supervise and train staff within the team
• Participate in the resolution of political and ethical issues, such as conflicts of interest between partner organisations, or non-compliance with regulations.

Key skills for managing sports centres and sports venues

The skills you will need to have a successful career in the sports sector depend very much on what type of organisation you are working in. For example, in a national sports club you will need to put more emphasis on sales, marketing and promotion, while in the management of a public sports centre you will have more responsibilities related to financing.

In general, however, you should have the following skills:

• A strong interest in sport
• Computer and administrative skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• Commercial awareness
• Self-motivation and a drive for change and improvement
• An enthusiastic and resilient personality
• Ability to build and maintain relationships and communicate well with everyone
• Planning, organisational and time management skills
• Work well in a team, in a dynamic and customer-focused environment
• Project a positive image of the sport.

What to study to work in sport management?

At Universidad Europea, we have a wide portfolio of programmes in the area of sport that prepares you for a professional career in sport management. The world of sport is very international, which is why we offer the opportunity to study in Spanish or English. We are aware that you may have personal or professional commitments, so we also offer you the possibility to study on campus or online.

Whichever option you choose, you will have access to a world-class faculty, all experts in their fields and most of whom are still working in leading businesses and companies in Spain and around the world. With our academic model based on experiential learning, from day one of your programme you will be connected to the professional world and working on real cases.