What does a career in sport actually look like?

After reading about Sport Management and the various career options in brief, it’s now time to paint a picture of what day-to-day work in sports can actually look like especially as an Operations Assistant for a professional women’s soccer team.

When I first imagined working in sports, I thought I would be close to the action and around the players, coaching staff, and VIPs. What I didn’t fully understand was how much of the work happens behind the scenes to make that experience possible.

I’m now coming up on my third season as an Operations Assistant with the Washington Spirit. The role sits at the intersection of several departments, with responsibilities that include:

Stadium setup and teardown: Preparing the venue before matchday and helping return it to its original state afterward.

Credentialing and matchday materials: Preparing and distributing credentials and materials that allow staff, partners, media, and other personnel to perform their roles.

Fan giveaways: Coordinating the distribution of promotional items and ensuring the process runs smoothly.

Partnership activations: Working with the partnerships team to help set up and execute activations and provide support where needed.

Fan experience: Interacting with fans, addressing questions or issues, and helping create a positive matchday experience.

What may look like a simple matchday from the outside is actually the result of many people and departments working together behind the scenes. As I mentioned in the previous explainer, working in sports rarely means working in isolation. Operations, partnerships, marketing, guest experience, and other departments often have to work together to deliver a successful event.

While the work can be demanding, it also provides an opportunity to develop skills that extend well beyond operations:

Attention to detail: Small details can have a significant impact on the fan experience and the successful execution of an event.

Teamwork: Operations require collaboration not only within the department, but also with teams across the organization.

Adaptability: Things will inevitably change or go wrong on event days, and being able to adjust quickly is essential when every second counts.

Problem-solving: For example, while setting up the stadium, I noticed that time was being lost locating misplaced equipment. I proposed a QR-based tracking system to make the process more organized and efficient.

One reality of working in sports is that the schedule can often include long hours, evenings, and weekends. But that is also part of what makes the work unique. You are contributing to an experience that brings people together, creates memories, and strengthens the sense of community that ultimately makes sport so meaningful.

Put It Into Practice: Look Beyond the Job Title

A job title rarely tells you the full story. This activity helps you investigate what a role actually involves before deciding whether it's right for you.

Step 1: Choose a sports role.

Pick a role that interests you, whether it's an Operations Assistant, Partnerships Coordinator, Marketing Associate, or another position.

Role: ____________________

Organization: ____________________

Step 2: Investigate the day-to-day work.

Find a job description, interview, or professional profile that gives you insight into the role.

Record three responsibilities you discover:

Step 3: Consider the realities.

Based on your research, answer these questions:

What skills does the role require?

Does the work involve evenings, weekends, travel, or event-day responsibilities?

Which part of the role appeals to you most?

Which part might be challenging?

Step 4: Test your assumptions.

Before doing this research, what did you expect the role to involve? What surprised you?

One thing I learned: ____________________

What this reveals: Understanding the reality of a job helps you make more informed career decisions. Look beyond the excitement associated with working in sports and consider the responsibilities, skills, and working conditions involved.