Careers in sports management involve working with athletes and sports franchises or teams. Responsibilities in this career vary. The job of an agent is to help a professional athlete gain the best contract, while a manager may help recruit people with athletic talent to join their sports programs or manage the business side of a professional athlete’s career. Sports management can also involve marketing or management of sports franchises. Franchises often operate as a company, with a CEO, general manager, and office staff. A manager may also work for community programs, where their responsibilities involve organizing athletic programs and encouraging participation. The qualifications that you need to work in sports management depend on your career path.