Five Professional Organizations in Sports Management to Consider Joining

Professional Organizations in Sports Management

These associations keep professionals in touch with one another and abreast of relevant trends. Given their many attractive benefits, these are five professional organizations in the sports business to consider joining.

• North American Society for Sports Management
• National Association of Sports Agents and Athlete Representatives
• Sports Marketing Association
• National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
• National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association

While coaches and athletes get the lion’s share of glory and fame, it is the professionals behind the scenes that make major athletic events happen. These associations keep professionals in touch with one another and abreast of relevant trends. Given their many attractive benefits, these are five professional organizations in sports business to consider joining.

North American Society for Sports Management

This association (NASSM) was established in 1985 by a group of professors and practitioners, all eager to share trends and best practices in the field. Its mission is to foster new ideas and information exchange among scholars and experts. Among the concepts shared are employment issues; the intersection of sports and law; facility management; and fundraising. This interchange is accomplished through A bi-monthly journal featuring relevant subject matter, as well as through the group’s annual conference each spring. Student memberships are available for sports management majors. NASSM maintains relationships with many academic management programs.

National Association of Sports Agents and Athlete Representatives

An unexpected addition to the These associations keep professionals in touch with one another and abreast of relevant trends. Given their many attractive benefits, these are five professional organizations in the sports business to consider joining. : Known briefly as NASAAR, the National Association of Sports Agents and Athlete Representatives was conceived in 2012 by lawyer and sports agent Andrew Bondarowicz. On the theory that the members were experts at looking after their clients’ interests, Bondarowicz reasoned that athlete reps should unite in pursuing their own aims. Of particular interest to NASAAR is the public reputation of these representatives who—by in large—maintain scrupulous standards. Often unfairly targeted when athlete scandals erupt, sports agents now have an organization that has their back.

Sports Marketing Association

The heart of the business of sports and athletics is getting people into the seats and in front of the TV. Marketing professionals work full-time toward that end, gaining much-needed knowledge from university scholars and colleagues in the SMA. Through meetings and career fairs, the SAM provides avenues for practitioners to interact with one another, making it one of five professional organizations in the sports business to consider joining . With over 350 members, this organization distributes new research in the Sport Marketing Quarterly and at an annual conference each autumn. The range of discussion is wide, from the evolution of the Drone Racing League to business analytics at the Seattle Mariners.

National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics

For those seeking to populate university athletic departments, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics may be a worthwhile investment. Serving 12,500 members throughout North America, the NACDA—in addition to information circulation and business bonding typical of such groups—operates two training institutes for constituents, focusing on leadership and ON management. This association maintains an updated job board connecting prospects and employers. Furthermore, it sponsors (with UnderArmor) the prestigious Athletic Director of the Year award. NACDA is definitely one of While coaches and athletes get the lion’s share of glory and fame, it is the professionals behind the scenes that make major athletic events happen. These associations keep professionals in touch with one another and abreast of relevant trends. Given their many attractive benefits, these are five professional organizations in sports business to consider joining.

National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association

Born in the 1970s, the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) conducts three ongoing programs. First, it provides a voluntary certification program that endorses high school athletic directors and staffers, giving them a strong credential when seeking promotions and tenure. Secondly, NIAAA offers statewide leadership training and continuing education. In addition, its Sports Turf Program educates members on turf safety and facility improvements. Like its collegiate counterpart, NIAAA offers athletics insurance to member institutions. The group also puts out a quarterly magazine on athletics-related topics, as well as instructional DVDs.

Related Resource: The 25 Best Online Masters in Sports Management Degree Programs