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Sports Development Officer

Do you want to become a Sports Development Officer? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

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There are three main areas of work:

• Sports development officers make sure that many different people have the opportunity to take part in sport and develop their skills, working closely with the local community. They help local groups to gain funding and grants.
• Sport-specific development officers are linked to particular sports, and make sure anyone can participate and compete at the right level.
• Community sports development officers are more involved in social policy and encouraging more people to take part in sport generally.

The job also involves writing reports, administration, identifying the need for new opportunities, managing budgets, promotion and marketing.

Hours may vary from week to week, and usually involve unsocial hours. Sports development officers spend some time in an office, the rest visiting venues, groups and events. They may work indoors or outdoors, and the work can involve significant travel.

Salaries range from £12,900 to £40,000.

Sports development officers should:

• have organisational ability
• be able to motivate people
• have excellent communication skills
• be enthusiastic and self-motivated
• enjoy working with individuals and groups.

Sports development is one of the fastest growing areas of the sports industry. The main employers are local authorities and the governing bodies of sport.

Sports development is increasingly becoming a graduate profession. Entrants usually have degrees in subjects such as sports development, sports science, physical education or recreation/leisure management.

People usually start this work as adults.

There are various qualifications, including NVQs/SVQs, which officers can study for.

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