Explore your career in

Sports Management

Study options

Study options Careers Why Flinders? Get inspired FAQs Enquire now

Turn your passion for sport into a career with Flinders’ industry-connected sport management courses, including diploma and bachelor degree study options.

Build the business, leadership and management skills needed to work across the growing sports industry, while gaining practical experience and valuable industry connections.

Our Diploma in Sport Management is a one-year course combining academic expertise from Flinders University with real-world learning opportunities connected to leading sporting organisations, including Port Adelaide Football Club and the South Australian Cricket Association.

Our sport management bachelor degrees are three-year programs, with opportunities to combine sport management with areas such as psychology, marketing and law. Study at Bedford Park or Flinders’ City Campus and develop practical skills for careers across sport, events, marketing, administration and management.

Explore a career in Sports Management

Turn your passion for sport into a career behind the game. Sports management can lead to opportunities across professional clubs, sporting organisations, events, marketing, administration and athlete management, with pathways that let you combine your interests with strong business and leadership skills.

Diverse career opportunities

Build the knowledge and experience to navigate emerging technologies, evolving industries and the challenges of tomorrow's workforce.

Strong industry connections

Develop professional networks and gain practical experience working with sporting organisations and industry partners.

Business skills that travel

Build skills in management, marketing, communication, leadership and strategy that are valuable across both sport and broader industries.

A growing industry

Prepare for opportunities in a fast-moving sector spanning professional sport, recreation, events, community organisations and commercial operations.

Study options

Diploma in Sports Management with Port Adelaide Football Club

Prepare for a career in one of the world’s most exciting industries! This diploma combines Flinders University’s academic expertise with the industry experience of Port Adelaide Football Club.

Based at Alberton Oval 3 days a week, students will combine lessons on topics such as leadership, event management and marketing with over 100 hours of practical, work-ready experience with Port Adelaide management and staff.

Diploma in Sports Management (Football)

Diploma in Sports Management (Cricket) with the South Australian Cricket Association

Go behind the scenes and learn how a cricket association operates, gain vital marketing and event management skills, build your professional network and discover how you can make your mark in sports management.

On completion, you'll be fully prepared to pursue a career in sports management, or continue your studies with guaranteed entry into Flinders degrees.

Diploma in Sports Management (Cricket)

Bachelor of Business majoring in Sports Management

Prepare for a career in one of the world’s most exciting industries! This diploma combines Flinders University’s academic expertise with the industry experience of Port Adelaide Football Club.

Based at Alberton Oval 3 days a week, students will combine lessons on topics such as leadership, event management and marketing with over 100 hours of practical, work-ready experience with Port Adelaide management and staff.

Bachelor of Business majoring in Sports Management*

Bachelor of Business

Prepare for a career in one of the world’s most exciting industries! This diploma combines Flinders University’s academic expertise with the industry experience of Port Adelaide Football Club.

Based at Alberton Oval 3 days a week, students will combine lessons on topics such as leadership, event management and marketing with over 100 hours of practical, work-ready experience with Port Adelaide management and staff.

Bachelor of Business*

Potential occupations

Join an exciting industry rich in opportunity, strong job growth and excellent prospects. Expand your skills and career options by following up your Bachelor of Business (Sports Management) with a Graduate Certificate in Sports Coaching.

Top ten sports manager jobs

professional sports coach
venue operations manager
community program manager
talent agent
official, umpire or referee
premier league coach
sports administrator
player agent
health and wellbeing manager
sports journalist

Potential employers

Take your finely-honed strategic, marketing and digital leadership skills across industries by leveraging Flinders’ national contacts in sporting clubs, governing bodies, and community groups.

If you study our Diploma in Sports Management based at Alberton Oval you'll enjoy 100+ hours training with Port Adelaide players, management and staff. As a successful graduate, you could be offered employment with the Port Adelaide Football Club.

Industry placement

Graduate future-ready for tomorrow’s workforce with our Work Integrated Learning and industry placement programs. Flinders' strong industry ties connect you to industry leaders, including prestige brands and professional bodies across all sectors.  

No.1 in SA

in Business & Management for learning resources and overall educational experiences.

(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (postgraduate), public SA-founded universities only)

Five stars

in Business & Management for learning resources.

(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (undergraduate), public SA-founded universities only)

Flinders MBA ranked Tier 1

in Global CEO Magazine

Why study Sports Management at Flinders?

Connect with industry partnerships and leaders

Flinders University is a proud partner of Port Adelaide Football Club and South Australian Cricket Association. Our network of industry leaders will provide you with real industry experience and connections while you study, helping you build your sports career and realise your ambitions.

Here are just some examples:

Adelaide 36ers

Athletics SA

Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation Inc

Australian Football League

Department of Education (South Australia)

Inclusive Sport South Australia

Lumin Sports

Netball South Australia

Office for Recreation Sport and Racing (South Australia)

Port Adelaide Football Club

SACA

South Adelaide Football Club

South Australian National Football League

Sport Australia

Surf Lifesaving South Australia

Tennis Australia

Tailor your studies

Our Flinders Innovation and Enterprise electives allow you to tailor the Sports Management degree to suit your career goals. These optional subjects empower you to develop transferable skills like leadership, creativity, teamwork and resilience.

Learn at the Port Adelaide Institute of Sport

Our Diploma in Sports Management will have you learning the ropes at Alberton Oval alongside Port Adelaide players, management and staff.

Future-proof your career

Graduate ahead of the game with future-forward skills taught by Australia’s leading academics and sports management professionals.

Study at real-world sporting venues

Home to some of South Australia’s biggest sporting clubs. These real-world settings give you exclusive access to the inner workings of elite sport.
Through our industry partnerships, you’ll learn directly from professionals and gain hands-on experience in the spaces where sport is managed, marketed, and played. It’s practical, career-focused learning that sets you apart.

Hear from our students

"The flexible learning style of engaging online lectures allows me to work [while studying] and gain experience within the sports industry."

Heath Wingard, Bachelor of Business (Sports Management)

"I’m confident these skills will serve me tremendously as I now pursue a career I’m deeply passionate about. Sport plays a big role in my life, so why not make it a career.”"

Andrea van Metzinger, Bachelor of Business (Sports Management)

The Future of Fandom – Real Conversations with Real Leaders

Flinders University hosted The Future of Fandom, an engaging panel event featuring sport management expert Professor Adam Karg, Director of the Sport Innovation and Technology Lab at Deakin University. Professor Karg was joined by senior executives from Port Adelaide Football Club, Adelaide United Football Club, and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA), all education partners in Flinders' growing suite of sport management programs.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

What are the entry requirements for sports management?

Check out the Flinders University Handbook and search for the sports management course you’re interested in.

What does a Sports Manager get paid?

A sports management career can pay very well. According to Labour Market Insights a Sports Administrator in Australia earns around $2600 per week.*

*Source: Labour Market Insights

Is sports management a good career?

A Sports Management degree can lead to many different careers. In such a thriving sector, the biggest decision will be whether you'd prefer to focus on the business side of the industry or be directly involved with coaching sports professionals.

Practical Experience: Over 90 hours of hands-on work-integrated learning

Our diplomas and bachelor degrees in sport management provide you with practical experience that prepares you for the workforce.
Participate in Work-Integrated Learning and industry placement programs.
Go behind the scenes and learn how a sport club operates, gain vital marketing and event management skills, build your professional network and discover how you can make your mark in sports management.
Flinders graduates have an excellent reputation within the industry.

What does a Player Agent do?

A Player Agent represents a sports professional. They are responsible for negotiating the player's contract, offering legal and financial advice, securing endorsement and sponsorship deals, and managing media appearances. The ability to build deep connections within the corporate sector and sporting community is vital to success in this role.