Training Needed to Be a Sports Analyst
by Jill Lee
By getting the right training and education, you can enjoy a career as a sports analyst.
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1 Get a Job in Sports Broadcasting
2 What Degree Do You Need to Become a Sports Reporter?
3 Become a Sports Announcer
4 Become a Football Analyst
Becoming a sports analyst requires more than just understanding the athletic industry. It involves training and education that prepares you for a career in broadcasting. As an on-air personality, you must be able to think quickly, speak clearly and relate well with an audience. However, becoming a sports analyst will be worth the time and training once you embark on an exciting career surrounding the games you love.
Because most broadcasting jobs require a bachelor's degree, the first part of your training will be in the classroom. Choose a school that has a reputable journalism department and can give you a marketable degree that stands out on a resume. Research schools that have sports broadcasting programs specifically such as Texas Christian, Penn State or Indiana University, and then enroll at one that fits your budget and location. During your college career you will take classes that prepare you for a career in broadcasting and learn from professors who have experience in the field.
College Stations
Many universities with well-developed journalism departments have outlets for students who want to hone their broadcasting skills through on-campus stations and programs. Depending on the size of the school, you may have access to both radio and TV options or even online opportunities. If so, take advantage of them. This will help you maximize your classroom studies and put your lessons into action.
Internships are a valuable part of training to be a sports analyst. As an intern, you learn the ropes at an actual station and observe the daily lives of those who hold the jobs you are pursuing. College professors and journalism departments can help you find internships and will work with the station to make sure you get the experience you need. Not only will an internship give you a glimpse inside the world of sports broadcasting, it will also help you build a great resume for when you start applying for jobs.
Athletic Experience
One good training qualification for being a sports analyst is having athletic experience yourself. The best thing is if you made a name for yourself as a player, but it also is a plus if you were a coach, student-manager, athletic trainer or worked in the athletic department offices at your school. Because the broadcasting field is so competitive, you will need training in the sports industry in order to land a job. Get your experience through participating in sports or volunteering in your school's athletic department.
Because sports analyst positions are the top of a broadcast staff, you will have to work your way up through the ranks. Entry-level jobs in production or general assistance can help you get your foot in the door with a network, station or website, as can taking on play-by-play announcing work. When pursuing your career as a sports analyst, keep an open mind to jobs that may not be your first choice -- they could lead to open doors in the future.
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts
Education-Portal.com: How to Become a Sports Broadcaster
Education-Portal.com: Become a Sports Commentator: Education and Career Roadmap
BleacherReport.com: The Top 10 Sports Analysts/Announcers of the New Millennium
DegreeDirectory.org: Which Schools Offer a Sports Broadcasting Degree?
Education-Portal.com: Top 10 Journalism Schools in the U.S.
After graduating from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in sports information, Jill Lee served for 10 years as a magazine editor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Also a published author, Lee now works as a professional writer and editor focusing on fitness, sports and careers.
Lee, Jill. "Training Needed to Be a Sports Analyst." Work - Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/training-needed-sports-analyst-18325.html. Accessed 15 July 2019.
Lee, Jill. (n.d.). Training Needed to Be a Sports Analyst. Work - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/training-needed-sports-analyst-18325.html
Lee, Jill. "Training Needed to Be a Sports Analyst" accessed July 15, 2019. http://work.chron.com/training-needed-sports-analyst-18325.html
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