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Sports development officers organise projects and training to encourage people to take part in sport and have a healthier lifestyle.
You could work: evenings / weekends; attending events or appointments
There will be
4.3% more Sports development officer jobs in 2029.
In your local area
As a sports development officer, you could:
You could work in an office, at a school, on a sports field, at a fitness centre or at a college.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:sports development or management; sports coaching; sports science; leisure studies
It's important to get work experience in community sport during your studies as most employers expect this. Talk to your university careers service for help and advice on finding internship, year placement and volunteering opportunities.
You'll usually need:
You could take a college course to give you some of the skills and knowledge needed to start out as a trainee in this role.
Courses include:
You may be able to apply for an apprenticeship with a local authority or community organisation.
Options include:
These can take up to 2 years to complete, and are a mix of on-the-job learning and study with a college or training provider.
Volunteering as a coach, supporting community and holiday sports schemes, or working with a local sports club can help to build your skills and confidence and may lead into paid employment.
You can search for opportunities through:
You can apply directly for jobs, if you've got relevant skills and knowledge, for example gained from:
You'll need to:
There's a lot of competition, so getting work experience and making contacts through networking will improve your chances of finding a job.
Experience of playing sports, or coaching across age groups with different abilities, can also be useful.
You can find out more about careers in sport from The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
UK Coaching has more on how to get coaching qualifications in any sport.
With experience, you could become a sports development manager or area manager, co-ordinating schemes across different locations.
You may be able to move into policy development at a regional or national level, or work as a consultant on a freelance basis, helping organisations to set up their own programmes.
You can find out more about careers in sport from The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
UK Coaching has more on how to get coaching qualifications in any sport.