Sports Development Officer

Typical Salary

£21,000 To £50,000

Typical Hours

36 to 38 a week

evenings / weekends attending events or appointments

How To Become a Sports Development Officer

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
volunteering
applying directly

College / 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

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

Apprenticeship

You can work towards this role by starting with an advanced apprenticeship as a community sport and health officer.

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

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.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

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

Day To Day Tasks

In this role, you could:

find and train staff, coaches and volunteers for projects
promote and run projects and activities
monitor and evaluate projects
find funding, manage resources and budgets
put local and national policies into practice
attend meetings, seminars and conferences
coach 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 & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

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.

Tips & 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.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults