Sport administrator

Sport administrators act in a middle management role within sport organisations at all levels, in any sport or country in Europe (e.g. sport clubs, federations, and local authorities). They carry out organisational tasks across a wide range of functions in accordance with the strategy and policies set by management, boards of directors and committees. They play a crucial role in the overall delivery of sport and their work in sport organisations directly impact the unlocking of the potential of the sector in Europe towards health, social inclusion and economy.

The following job titles also refer to sport administrator:

sport administration officer
cricket club administrator
administrator of sports club
sports club administrator
programme administrator
administrator of olympic spot recruiting
sports administration officer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as sport administrator. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Sport administrator is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to sport administrator.

recreation policy officer
activism officer
healthcare consultant
sports programme coordinator
economic policy officer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of sport administrator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of sport administrator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of sport administrator.

Impact of politics on sport delivery: The political context of current service delivery and the sources of possible external influence for the sport organisation.

These skills are necessary for the role of sport administrator.

Manage sport facility finances: Manage finance in sport and physical activity to achieve the stated objectives for the organisation. Develop a master budget and use this to monitor, evaluate and control performance and take action to deal with identified variances. Delegate responsibility for budgets for clearly defined activities.
Ensure the provision of resources for physical activity: Ensure the physical resources (equipment, materials, premises, services and energy supplies) required to carry out planned physical activities and sports in the organisation.
Develop practices to conduct effective sport club management: Develop practices to conduct effective sport club management. Support the formation of a club, role and structure of a committee, purpose and procedure of meetings, role of club treasurer, role of sponsorship and fundraising, role of marketing and sport promotion, requirements of personnel in event management, basic legal and risk management issues in sport.
Lead a team: Lead, supervise and motivate a group of people, in order to meet the expected results within a given timeline and with the foreseen resources in mind.
Promote equality in sport activities: Develop policies and programmes that aim to increase the participation and involvement of underrepresented groups in sport, such as women and girls, ethnic minority groups, disabled people and, in some cases, young people.
Liaise with sports organisations: Liaise with local sports councils, regional committees and national governing bodies.
Involve volunteers: Recruit, motivate and manage volunteers in the organisation or in a department of the organisation. Manage relationship with volunteers from before they make a volunteering commitment, throughout their time with the organisation to beyond the conclusion of their formal volunteering agreement.
Coordinate the administration of a sports organisation: Develop and implement strategies to coordinate the administration of teams or groups within a club or organisation.
Manage personal professional development in sport: Take responsibility for developing own knowledge, skills and competence to meet the current and future requirements of the work and to support personal and career development in sport.
Ensure health and safety of customers: Promote and maintain a culture of health, safety and security among your customers by maintaining policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable participants and when necessary, dealing with suspicions of possible abuse.
Implement operational business plans: Implement the strategic business and operational plan for an organisation by engaging and delegating to others, monitoring progress and making adjustments along the way. Evaluate the extent to which strategic objectives have been achieved, learn lessons, celebrate success and recognise people’s contributions.
Ensure health and safety of staff: Promote and maintain a culture of health, safety and security among the staff by maintaining policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable participants and when necessary, dealing with suspicions of possible abuse.
Develop opportunities for progression in sport: Develop and implement plans and frameworks to increase participation and the progression of athletes.
Respond to enquiries: Respond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.
Manage internal process of a sport organisation: Plan and implement the management of teams or groups within a club or organisation. ​Coordinate human resources and communication.
Manage customer service: Manage the delivery of customer service including activities and approaches that play a vital part in customer service by seeking and implementing improvements and developments.
Manage a team: Ensure clear and effective channels of communication across all departments within the organisation and support functions, both internally and externally ensuring that the team is aware of the standards and objectives of the department/business unit. Implement the disciplinary and grievance procedures as required ensuring that a fair and consistent approach to managing performance is consistently achieved. Assist in the recruitment process and manage, train and motivate employees to achieve/exceed their potential using effective performance management techniques. Encourage and develop a team ethic amongst all employees.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
Implement strategic planning: Take action on the goals and procedures defined at a strategic level in order to mobilise resources and pursue the established strategies.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sport administrator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

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These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sport administrator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Manage sports events: Plan, organise and evaluate sports events which are critical to competition and to the profile and development of a sport. Allow athletes to perform at their best and to be a catalyst for broader success. Introduce the sport to new participants and increase its profile, funding, facility provision, influence and prestige.
Establish collaborative relations: Establish a connection between organisations or individuals which may benefit from communicating with one another in order to facilitate an enduring positive collaborative relationship between both parties.
Facilitate physical activity in the community: Promote and deliver sport and physical activity in a community-based context, establish effective working relationships with key contacts in the community, deliver programmes and enable communities, through professional advice and expertise, to establish and sustain opportunities for participation and development.
Apply for external funding for physical activity: Raise additional funds through applying for grants and other kinds of income (such as sponsorship) from funding bodies for sport and other physical activity. Identify possible funding sources and prepare bids.
Manage sport competition programmes: Develop competitive programmes through careful planning, management and evaluation to ensure each programme meets the needs and requirements of a variety of key stakeholders.
Manage athletes touring abroad: Plan, coordinate and evaluate international tours for athletes.
Contribute to the safeguarding of children: Understand, apply and follow safeguarding principles, engage professionally with children and work within the boundaries of personal responsibilities.
Liaise with board members: Report to the management, boards of directors and committees of an organisation.
Support the development of sport activities in education: Support sport and physical activity in an education context. Analyse the educational community in which the sport organisation will be working, establish effective working relationships with key stakeholders in that community and enable the educational community, through professional advice and expertise, to establish and sustain opportunities for participation and progression for children and young people.
Promote sport activities in public health: Support the delivery of sport and physical activity to promote general health and wellbeing, decrease risk factors for disease and prevent chronic disease and disability.

1349 – Professional services managers not elsewhere classified

 

 

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References

1. Sport administrator – ESCO