Get in the game with a career in sports and recreation management

One recent graduate is running the aquatics, gym and spa programs at Ansley Country Club in Atlanta. Two others are working while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees in the field. Graduates find jobs with professional or college sports departments; commercial recreation venues like White Water and Six Flags; recreation programs at state, county and city parks; hotels; resorts; gyms; YMCAs; and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

"Atlanta offers a multitude of teams, venues and parks, so there are many different types of opportunities," O’Brien said.

Since starting the program, O’Brien has established relationships with organizations where his students can obtain internships, including the Georgia State Games, the Atlanta Beat soccer team and Georgia Tech’s intramural sports program.

"I’ve focused on growing external relationships because that allows our students to gain experience outside the classroom," he said. "Those experiences can lead to job discussions and referrals."

For a recent class project his students helped set up the Smyrna Community Center for a tae kwon do championship hosted by the Georgia State Games.

"They got to participate in a major sporting event from a different perspective; to be involved from set-up to tear-down and everything in between," O’Brien said. "Eric Pfeifer, the executive director of the Georgia State Games, came to class to evaluate their work and talk about how to improve the event the next time. It was a win for everyone."

Sport and recreation management students can enter the program in any quarter. After an introduction to the field, they take courses in marketing, principles of management, legal issues in sports, recreation management and others. The capstone course is a full-time internship.

"The industry is looking for people with strong work ethics," O’Brien said. "This is not a typical 9-to-5 job. You might be working nontraditional hours, nights and weekends.

"So much of the job is customer service, and excellent communication skills are necessary as well as industry knowledge and management acumen. This is the business end of sports and recreation."

Working in sports is competitive off the field, too.

"It’s a small world, and a two-year degree is a very viable path into the industry," O’Brien said. "For those who get their foot in the door, there are ample opportunities to move up. If you do a good job, your reputation will spread quickly."

From the first course in the program, he stresses the importance of a strong work ethic, and tells his students to think of themselves as young, training professionals.

"I encourage them to keep growing and learning," he said.

O’Brien recently signed an articulation agreement with the United States Sports Academy in Mobile, so his students can earn bachelor’s degrees online while working in Atlanta.

"For most people, the most attractive thing about this industry is that they’re going to work and do what they are passionate about every day," he said. "Sports and recreation make a positive difference in communities, from providing a healthy outlet for young people to making adult and senior lives richer. There is great job satisfaction in being part of that."

State budget cuts and the recession have impacted jobs at some parks and programs, but the industry is expected to grow to fill the demands of a growing younger generation, retiring baby boomers and a continued interest in health and fitness.

"Think about the growing popularity of yoga, Pilates and rock climbing, and the Roswell Recreation program now has BMX racing. Recreation is expanding," O’Brien said.

To learn more, call 770-528-4538, contact pobrien@chattahoocheetech.edu or go to www.chattahoocheetech.edu.

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