The excited crowd begins to disperse. The big lights go off one by one. The adrenaline-ridden players jog back to the locker room. The game has officially ended. You smile to yourself at another job well done. You feel a sense of accomplishment in knowing that your relationship with everyone on the field has continued to grow and thrive. You know that you played a role in tonight’s success by caring for the athletes, the facilities, and the school.
Can you imagine yourself in this scenario? If you have a love for athletics but are not sure of the best way to apply it, a degree in athletic administration could be a great path to take. This degree opens the door to opportunities to work with athletes, coaches, and facility managers to make an impact. If this sounds like a good fit, here are a few athletic director requirements you should know about.
Strong Communication Skills
Athletic directors must be willing to collaborate with a variety of people. Your role will require communication with school staff, athletes, coaches, and the surrounding community. This requires an understanding of how to tailor your communication to various audiences.
For example, how an athletic director communicates with the community will look very different than with student-athletes. Communication with community members may focus on advertising events, fundraising, or sharing game updates, while athlete communication would likely include encouraging words, meeting the needs of the team, or responding to immediate concerns. Knowing how to communicate these specific messages is crucial as an athletic director.
Looking to grow these skills? Further your education with a sport management degree or an online athletic administration degree to give yourself practical tools to help you grow in your communication skills. Speaking of which, next on our list of athletic director requirements is relevant experience and education!