Sport and fitness management programs prepare people to run health clubs and manage sports teams. Students learn business, sales, and marketing skills. They also learn health and safety standards and public relations techniques.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of American youths aged 12 through 21 are not active on a regular basis. Numerous studies show that a lack of physical activity is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes type II, and colon cancer. The California Department of Education recently reported that physically fit kids perform better academically.

Add up these facts, and you get a powerful case for sport and fitness services and programs. Do you already believe in the value of fitness and sports for people of all ages? Do you consider yourself a natural leader? If so, sport and fitness management may be the program for you.

As a student in this program, you learn about the history of sport and fitness, analyzing existing programs and services. You also study management principles, both in general terms and also related specifically to sport and fitness. After building this knowledge as a foundation, you learn ways to design and implement programs. You learn how to promote them and raise funds. You also learn how to train and supervise personnel.

A background in sport and fitness management prepares you for careers in a wide range of related fields. These include collegiate athletics, recreational sports, and private fitness programs. You could oversee the overall operations of a particular program or specialize in a specific aspect such as marketing or events-planning.

Many schools offer programs in sport and fitness management. You can earn an associate, a bachelor's, a master's, and a doctoral degree in this program. After high school, an associate degree generally takes two years of full-time study and a bachelor's degree four years. A master's degree typically takes between five and six years and a doctoral degree between nine and ten.

At some schools, you can also earn a certificate, which usually takes about a year of full-time study. These certificates are intended to be earned in conjunction with another program of study such as education, business, or recreation studies.