BUSINESS, FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Sports Manager

Manages athletes, teams, leagues, events and sponsorships on the business side of sport.

Any degree (50% usually asked) After a degree Private sector

Facts checked 29/10/2026

Is this for me?

People in this work enjoy

Working closely with athletes, coaches and fans
Planning events, deals and campaigns from start to finish
Seeing a match or tournament come alive because of your work

It may not suit you if you dislike

Long hours, and weekend or night events are common
Travel and tight deadlines around tournaments
Early pay and job security can be uncertain, especially in smaller clubs

Class 11–12 subjects: Any graduation works: BBA, B.Com, BA, B.Sc or another degree. Most courses ask for about 50% in graduation, though some accept 40–45%. A sports background helps but is not compulsory.
First degree: A 3-year bachelor's degree in any subject, then a 1-year PG diploma or a 2-year MBA in Sports Management or Sports Business.
Entrance exams: No single national exam. Some MBA and PG courses use CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT or their own entrance test, followed by an interview. Others admit on merit.
Licence or registration: None needed to start working.

Open to every streamAny degree (50% usually asked).Check your subjects against every career

What the work is like

Planning and selling sponsorships, handling athlete contracts and schedules, organising tournaments and events, and running marketing and media work for a team, league or sports body.

A day in the work
A sports manager's day often starts with calls and emails about sponsors, match schedules, travel or player contracts. Late morning might bring a meeting with the coach and the marketing team about a match-day plan. Afternoons can go to a venue visit to check seating, the stage and ticketing. Evenings are often busy with the event itself, or with a report on how it went.

The path, step by step

Step 1 · Class 10–12Do well in school and keep sport in your life. Commerce, humanities or science are all fine. Help run a school sports day, keep score for a team, or join a club committee.
Step 2 · Graduation, 3 yearsTake any degree you can do well in. BBA, B.Com or BA with languages are common choices. Try for internships with a club, sports body, event company or sports agency while you study.
Step 3 · After graduation, 1–2 yearsJoin a 1-year PG diploma or a 2-year MBA in Sports Management or Sports Business. Check each college's entry test, interview and fee page before applying. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 4 · First 1–3 years of workTake an entry job in events, sponsorship, marketing, athlete relations or a league office. Build a record of the events and deals you helped deliver.
Optional · Government or sports body postsThe Sports Authority of India and some national bodies advertise manager-type contract posts. Each notice sets its own degree and experience rules, so read the official notice before you apply.

Ways in

Private sports business routeA PG diploma or MBA in Sports Management after any graduation. Then you join a club, league, sports agency, brand or event company.
Government and sports body routeContract or regular posts with the Sports Authority of India or national sports bodies. These usually ask for a degree and relevant experience, and the rules change by notice.

Time and money

Stage	Time	Government college or body	Private college	Help available
Class 11–12 (your school's fees)	2 years	Your school's fees	Your school's fees	—
Graduation, any subject (3-year bachelor's)	3 years	Check the college's fee page	Check the college's fee page	No stipend listed on page; internships are unpaid or unstated
Private route: 1-year PG diploma or 2-year MBA in Sports Management, with entrance test and interview where required	1–2 years	Check the college's fee page	Pillai PG diploma: ₹2 lakh per year; DY Patil VPSM MBA: ₹9.5 lakh per year (2026-27); SRM MBA: ₹4.95 lakh annual fee (year not stated)	No stipend listed; check each college's fee page and entrance test rules

Total timeAbout 4–5 years after Class 12 (3-year degree plus 1–2 years PG)

Total costDepends mostly on the college you choose — compare fee pages.

Good to knowNo stipend is listed for these courses, and the SRM fee conflicts with the 4.5 lakh total on the page, so verify it before paying.

Fees from: Pillai, PG Diploma in Sports Management · SRM applications page, MBA Sports Management · DY Patil VPSM MBA in Sports Management programme page (fees 2026-27) · SRM MBA Sports Management programme page (annual fee) · UGC National Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies guidelines (eligibility). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

What people earn

Pay depends on the employer, the city and your experience. Entry jobs in private firms start modest and grow with results, while senior roles with major leagues or brands pay much more.

Myth and fact

Myth: ~~You must have been a top athlete to become a sports manager.~~

Fact: Many courses accept any graduate, and a sports background helps but is not required. Business, law, marketing and people skills matter more for the job.

Try it now

Class 7–9Help plan a school sports day or inter-house match. Make the timetable, the score sheet and the list of prizes, and see what goes wrong.
Class 10–12Take a free beginner course on sports business or sports management and note three ideas you could use at your school or club.Open link ↗
College or afterVolunteer at a local league, stadium or sports event for a few days. Keep a simple log of what you did and what you learned.

Good to know

There is no single licence for this job. Anyone can call themselves a sports manager, so check what a course really teaches before you pay for it.
Many courses accept any graduate. Some give small relaxations to sports achievers or reserved categories, so read each college's rules.
Fees vary a lot between colleges. Always check the college's own fee page and ask what the placement record is.
The field is small and relationships matter. Internships and a steady record of events are often as useful as the degree.

Sources: Sports Authority of India, job opportunities page · Sports Authority of India, recruitment page (saijobs) · National Sports University, admission application page · Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University, PG Diploma in Sports Management · Pillai (PG Diploma in Sports Management) programme page · SRM applications page, MBA Sports Management