The World of Sports as a Career
Part I – Guardians and Artisans
By CollegeAdvisor on 08-05-2008
Many personality styles are attracted to the world of sports. Most people think first of athletes and coaches, but there are also referees, umpires, broadcasters, marketing specialists, agents, equipment managers, sports psychologists, trainers and many more positions. Sports is a business that needs its managers, accountants and statisticians.
Sports is based upon competition and openings in the field are generally competitive. Educational advantage and internships often open the door to sports positions. For instance, if you want to be in sports PR, get a degree in journalism and apply for internships to get connections. Also attend social networking events held by organizations such as the National Sports Marketing Network. Do informational interviews with people in the field. If you want to be a sports agent, a master’s degree in sports management or a business degree can help.
Guardians in Sports
· Guardian Supervisors tend to move toward the business, finance and management/leadership area of sports. As athletes they impose a routine on themselves, have great dexterity and get better with age and experience. Learning to relax their arms helps keep them be cool under pressure.
· Guardian Inspectors tend to move toward financial planning, accounting, and supervising. Their ability to analyze and break things into steps makes them great coaches. As athletes they are often defensive stars and can be tough under pressure. Developing their special awareness and visualization skills makes them better athletes.
· Guardian Providers tend to move toward sales, customer relations, and sports psychology. As athletes they learn best when commended for their efforts and treated with sensitivity. Their skill comes from the use of their big muscles and they need to keep them relaxed when competition heats up.
· Guardian Protectors are often drawn to sports medicine or physical therapy. As athletes, they are the least aggressive of the Guardians and usually prefer solo rather than team sports, but if in team sports, they are most often found in defense. They do best as athletes when started young and given praise. They need to learn to be less self critical and to relax.
Artisans in Sports
· Artisan Promoters tend to be drawn to the sales side of sports, or anything that has an entrepreneurial aspect. They are power athletes with excellent peripheral awareness. Many gifted quarterbacks are of this personality style. They trust actions more than words, but can be gifted in both. They can need help for becoming too impatient and tightening up their fine motor skills.
· Artisan Crafters are the masters of analysis, tools and machines and can be fiercely independent. As they grow into their skills they can become managers and can be attracted to the financial side of a sports organization. They love fun and risk-taking and can be masters of deception. They are also intense, tough and competitive, but need to learn to not overuse these abilities.
· Artisan Performers are drawn to sales, public relations and are sometimes found in the tour and travel aspects of the sports business. As athletes, they use their boundless energy, skills with their big muscles, and their love of the crowd to entertain. They may have problems sticking with the disciplines that sports careers necessitate, but when they do, they are often outstanding in their field. They say what they feel and usually influence others around them.
· Artisan Composers have a natural grace and are often drawn to fields where they can express their own personal flair. They may be doing artwork for the team or designing new uniforms or being involved in physical therapy. It is hard to pin them down. They are often seen as gentle and caring until the competition starts, then they are tigers. Team mates often say they seem to exhibit a 6th sense about where to be when the game gets tough.
Next week: Learning about Idealists and Rationals in Sports.
