Are you a sports enthusiast with a mind for analytics? If so, working as a sports analyst might be just the career for you. We’re going to take a closer look at what you should know about becoming a sports analyst, including:

• Job duties of a sports analyst
• How to get a job as a sports analyst
• Education and training needed to be a sports analyst

For anyone that’s ever dreamed of a job in the world of sports, career options aren’t limited to positions on the field or the court. In fact, there are so many sports jobs that make it possible to turn your love of the game into a full-time career – and most of them don’t require you to become a professional athlete.

If you’re a passionate sports fan that enjoys analyzing your favorite games, teams, and players, a job as a sports analyst can be an exciting and fulfilling career. But before you can dive right into the game-time action, you’ll need to be ready to hold your own in a competitive, fast-paced industry. That means understanding not just what a sports analyst does on a day-to-day basis, but also what kind of education, skills, and experience you need to be one.

What is a Sports Analyst?

A sports analyst researches and/or reports sports-related content, using their knowledge and expertise in journalism, broadcasting, or analytics to successfully complete their daily duties. Usually, the term “sports analyst” can be used to refer to two different career paths:

• A sports broadcaster/sports journalist: A media professional that covers various sports stories, relying on their analytical skills to offer a specialized perspective on topics like player performance, industry trends, or winner projections.
• A sports analyst for a specific team: A specific type of analyst that researches and evaluates data to help a team improve its performance, including making changes to player training, scouting, and even specific plays.

In this post, we’re going to be talking about sports analysts in broadcasting.

What Does a Sports Analyst Do?

When you work as a sports analyst, every day is different. Depending on your employer, your actual job duties can vary considerably. For example, a sports analyst that works for a national sports news network and one that works for a local newspaper have very different responsibilities, working environments, and career paths.

When you decide to become a sports analyst, you can expect your duties to largely depend on the medium you work in and your employer. For example, you might provide live, on-air analysis of gameplay during a broadcast. Or, you might write weekly stories for a regional newspaper, detailing your projections for upcoming games.

Sports analysts can work for:

• Online media resources
• Newspapers
• Print publications
• Television stations
• Radio stations
• Podcast networks
• Certain teams, or specific colleges/universities

A number of professional sports analysts are freelancers, working on a project-by-project basis with various clients. Others are full-time employees for a single entity.

No matter where you work as a sports analyst, you can look forward to a career that’s always presenting new challenges and interesting experiences. This isn’t a job that will keep you in a quiet cubicle from 9 to 5; instead, you may find yourself moving between a variety of job locations as you keep up with the latest sports news.

How Do You Get a Job as a Sports Analyst?

Every successful sports analyst followed a unique path to achieve their career goals. And if you decide to pursue a job as a sports analyst, you’ll have a similar personal journey.

But even so, if you’re wondering how to become a sports analyst, the general steps typically look something like this:

1. Be an enthusiastic sports fan with an appreciation for sports-related knowledge and conversations.
2. Enroll in a school that provides specialized training for working in sports media.
3. Gain hands-on experience in the field.
4. Network with peers and mentors in sports media.
5. Find a job opportunity that aligns with your interests and goals.

Odds are, you already have the first step covered. Now, it’s time to move forward and get the experience and education needed to work as a sports analyst.

Education Requirements for Sports Analysts

One of the most common questions we receive is, “Do you need a degree to be a sports analyst?” Like most careers, sports analyst jobs have educational requirements that can vary from employer to employer. But usually, you’ll be expected to have some education in sports broadcasting, media, communications, or a similar field.

Keep in mind that there is a lot of competition for jobs in sports media – you aren’t the only sports lover that wants to turn their hobby into a career! So, you’ll need to take every opportunity to set yourself apart from other candidates.

One of the best ways to prepare for a sports analyst job and stand out from the crowd is by graduating from a specialized media school that offers a sports broadcasting program. In this type of program, you’ll be able to develop the skills that future employers will be looking for, such as:

• Reporting
• Production
• Writing
• Editing
• Internet marketing

Experience Needed to Be a Sports Analyst

It’s very unusual to secure a high-profile media job as someone who is new to the industry. Instead, you’ll probably begin in an entry-level sports position and work your way up.

But the good news is that there are many different opportunities to get your start and gain the experience that will help you get ahead. Internships are one of the best ways to strengthen your resume and your skill set, while also opening up doors to future job options and professional connections.

Sports Analyst Skills

Education and experience are key, but so is a solid foundation of traits and skills. If you’d like to be a sports analyst, it’s typically very helpful to have some of the following characteristics – and if you don’t have these skills yet, there’s no time like the present to start building them:

• An energetic, positive attitude
• Flexibility
• An authentic passion for sports
• Good communication skills
• The ability to be objective in your reporting (not being biased towards a certain team, for example)
• A willingness to take on unexpected tasks and work your way up in the industry
• An interest in learning new things

Get a Head Start on Your Sports Analyst Career with Media Training Courses

Are you ready to get your head in the game and begin working towards your dream job?

When you enroll in the Beonair Network of Media Schools with campuses located in Miami, Chicago, Colorado, and Ohio, you have the opportunity to gain the practical skills and knowledge you need to break into the industry. Our Sports Broadcasting program helps you learn how to be a sports analyst, focusing specifically on building the unique skillset you’ll use on the job. Plus, we can help you connect with industry internships for real-world training at actual networks in major cities like Chicago and Miami. Instead of signing up for a general broadcasting training program, you could gain a competitive advantage as a graduate of our Sports Broadcasting courses – why not set yourself up for success?

Learn more about jobs in sports media and take your first steps towards your future career when you contact our enrollment team today!

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