{"id":14371,"date":"2021-01-20T08:11:07","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T16:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/?p=14371"},"modified":"2023-08-23T09:42:57","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T16:42:57","slug":"how-to-become-a-sports-analyst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/how-to-become-a-sports-analyst\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Become a Sports Analyst"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Every time you turn on your TV to watch a game, you\u2019ve likely noticed the sports analysts\u2014the voices providing side stories, commentary, and statistics with each play. If you have a passion for sports and a head for statistical analysis, you may be wondering how to become a sports analyst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many routes to becoming a sports analyst, but all require mastering certain skills and technical knowledge. Here is a comprehensive guide with 5 steps to help you become a sports analyst\u2014including key skills, job roles, and responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is a Sports Analyst?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200cSports analysts report sports-related stories for various media outlets. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zippia.com\/sports-analyst-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Using data analysis and communication skills<\/a>, sports analysts break down the intricacies of various sports, recapping games for various media outlets. As a sports analyst, you could work for one specific employer including a TV station, a newspaper or magazine, a blog, or a podcast production company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might also choose to be a freelance sports analyst and pitch sports news stories to different media outlets. It\u2019s a natural transition for former athletes and coaches. As a former athlete, you might focus on your sport, providing an expert angle to your commentary. You could also choose to cover multiple sporting events, offering data analysis and hot takes on players, teams, games, and leagues.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.blog-cta-salsey-03 {\toverflow: hidden;\t}\t.blog-cta-salsey-03-img {\tmax-width: 160px !important;\t}\t@media (min-width: 768px) {\t.blog-cta-salsey-03-content {\tmax-width: calc(100% - 281px);\t}\t.blog-cta-salsey-03-img {\tposition: absolute;\tmax-width: 100% !important;\tright: -10px;\tbottom: -10px;\t}\t}<\/style><div class=\"blog-cta-salsey-03 bg-blue-50 p-3 my-5 position-relative\"><div class=\"d-block d-md-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"212\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/dac-student.png\" alt=\"Data Analyst student\" class=\"blog-cta-salsey-03-img mb-3 mb-md-0\" \/><div class=\"blog-cta-salsey-03-content\"><div class=\"d-flex align-items-center mb-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"pe-2\" width=\"86\" height=\"71\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/job-guarantee-heading-badge.png\" alt=\"Job Guarantee\" style=\"mix-blend-mode: multiply\"><h4 class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Become a Data Analyst. Land a Job or Your Money Back.<\/h4><\/div><p>Transform real-world datasets into actionable recommendations. Master technical and strategic thinking skills and frameworks. Land a job \u2014 or your money back.<\/p><p class=\"mb-sm-0\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/data-analytics-career-track\/#job-guarantee\">Explore course<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sports Analyst Career Outlook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The job market for a sports analyst primarily consists of large sports networks, radio, and streaming platforms. As traditional television viewership decreases, the outlook for sports broadcasters is also declining. It is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/media-and-communication\/reporters-correspondents-and-broadcast-news-analysts.htm#tab-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">projected to decline<\/a> 11% over the next few years. Sports analysts are more in demand in big cities with multiple teams. If you\u2019re interested in this career, you might need to consider relocating to an area with a large market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Streaming services and online media, such as podcasting, YouTube, and other video platforms, <a href=\"https:\/\/current.org\/2016\/09\/outlook-for-podcasting-includes-growing-profits-better-user-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">offer an alternative<\/a> to the traditional career path. You might consider starting your own show through YouTube or Vimeo, or you could start a podcast. But keep in mind that you will be responsible for marketing and growing the show yourself. If you have an entertaining personality and a unique point of view, this break from the traditional path might be a valuable alternative to traditional media outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5 Steps to Becoming a Sports Analyst<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/library\/static\/798f7139846e798cddc3853765f33665\/95145\/shutterstock_1497388952.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/library\/static\/798f7139846e798cddc3853765f33665\/4b190\/shutterstock_1497388952.jpg\" alt=\"Become a sports analyst\" title=\"Become a sports analyst\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u200c<\/h3>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-howto\" class=\"rank-math-block\" >\n<div class=\"rank-math-howto-description\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n<ol class=\"rank-math-steps \">\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668146773939\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Get Your Education<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668146800418\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Practice Statistical Analysis<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668146810354\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Get Experience<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668146820530\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Tailor Your Resume<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668146831752\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Focus on the Facts<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Get Your Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sports analysts typically have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career-advice\/career-development\/how-to-become-a-sports-analyst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bachelor\u2019s degree<\/a> in communication, journalism, sports journalism, or broadcasting. You will also need to learn about data science and data analytics to know how to find and analyze relevant statistics for each broadcast.\u200c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200cIf you\u2019re interested in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/career-advice\/how-to-change-careers-in-5-easy-steps\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/career-advice\/how-to-change-careers-in-5-easy-steps\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">changing careers<\/a>, you may be able to bypass undergraduate degree requirements by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.workinsports.com\/careeradvice\/pages\/rebranding-yourself-to-switch-into-a-career-in-sports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">showing experience<\/a> in a related field. For example, if your former career included heavy data analysis and reporting, highlight this in your resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Practice Statistical Analysis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Apply your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/data-analysis-methods-and-techniques\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/data-analysis-methods-and-techniques\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">data analysis<\/a> skills while watching games. Pay attention to win-loss records, game outcomes, individual player stats, and other information that impacts the team\u2019s overall performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of <a href=\"https:\/\/careertrend.com\/13708598\/how-to-become-a-sports-statistician\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">your job as a sports analyst<\/a> is to assess statistical models, providing thorough assessments of teams, individual athletes, and games. You may also be asked to make educated predictions on who will win games, but you need to have statistical data to back your assumption. Pay attention to these statistics in real-world sports and practice using the data to create interesting and informative stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Get Experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be concerned about how to become a sports analyst if you lack experience. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saintleo.edu\/blog\/4-steps-to-finding-a-sports-management-internship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Getting an internship<\/a> with a local television station or other media outlet is an ideal way to gain relevant experience and network with professionals in the field. Most schools offer credit for internships, and stations often look for interns from various schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also offer to perform sports analysis and create write-ups for your school\u2019s athletics department. Start networking by attending sports conferences and other media events. When you meet people in the business, offer to volunteer so you can learn the ropes. Don\u2019t be choosy. You may end up covering obscure sports in your area at first. \u200c\u200c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Tailor Your Resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Craft your resume to highlight relevant experience in broadcasting, communication, and statistical analysis. Look through the job description and emphasize skills and experiences that match the keywords in the description. If you\u2019re a former athlete, list it on your resume and discuss how it will help you excel in your future job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve completed an internship or volunteered, you might be able to land a full-time job based on your work experience. Making contacts and staying active in relevant LinkedIn groups can improve your chances of getting an interview and getting hired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Focus on the Facts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the key tenets of journalism is to remain objective. As a sports analyst, you need to follow this mantra. Tailor your reports using accurate data. Your data science training will equip you to make logical predictions and analyses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even after you\u2019ve gotten a job, keep networking to find reliable, credible sources for each story. Always fact-check your stories or scripts before they are released to the public. Paying attention to detail will enhance your credibility and deepen your insights, making you a reliable source for sports fans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"bg-leaf-50 p-4 my-3\"><h4 class=\"fw-bold text-center\">Get To Know Other\tData Analytics Students<\/h4><div class=\"row row-cols-1 row-cols-lg-3\"><div class=\"col\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/sarah-ganihar\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1633015812\/Sarah_Ganihar_125x125.png\" alt=\"Sarah Ganihar\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Sarah Ganihar<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">Business Intelligence Analyst at Amazon Web Services<\/p><\/div><div class=\"w-100 d-block d-md-none mt-3\"><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/sarah-ganihar\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"col d-none d-md-block\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/yogita-nesargi\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1648222893\/Yogita_Nesargi_1.jpg\" alt=\"Yogita Nesargi\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Yogita Nesargi<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">Data Engineer at Deloitte<\/p><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/yogita-nesargi\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"col d-none d-md-block\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/nelson-borges\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1640121633\/Student%20Success\/Nelson_Borges_375x375.png\" alt=\"Nelson Borges\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Nelson Borges<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">Insights Analyst at LinkedIn<\/p><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/nelson-borges\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sports Analyst Required Skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sports analysis is a field that combines storytelling prowess with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/what-does-data-analyst-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/what-does-data-analyst-do\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">solid analytical skills<\/a>. To be a sports analyst, you should develop the following <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/job-profile-sports-announcer-3113313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">skills and qualifications<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u200cCommunication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interpersonal skills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Writing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200cStatistical analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/what-is-data-analytics\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/what-is-data-analytics\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u200cData analytics<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/7-types-of-data-visualizations-and-how-to-use-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">data visualization<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200c\u200cNot only will you need to communicate in a compelling and confident way as you narrate the action, you&#8217;ll also need to work well with the other people in the studio. A good sports analyst will also be able to write broadcasting material and use statistical and data analysis to make accurate judgments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sports Analyst Salary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200cYour salary as a sports analyst or sports journalist will vary depending on your city and the size of your employer. At a small, local TV station, a sports analyst will make less than a sports analyst with a large following on a national network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/Salaries\/Sports-Analyst-Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">national average salary<\/a> for a sports analyst is $59,545 per year. You can improve your salary outlook by gaining experience and becoming a credible source in the field. A strong personality and unique point-of-view can also help you land a job with a national company like ESPN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200cSports analytics is a fun and rewarding career for passionate sports fans who have a penchant for numbers. Whether you\u2019re a former athlete or a die-hard sports fan, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/data-analytics-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/data-analytics-tools\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">learning about data analytics<\/a> can help you transition into this profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#efeff6\"><strong>Since you&#8217;re here&#8230;<\/strong><br>Considering a career in data analytics? We can get you there. Don\u2019t take our word for it \u2013 check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/reviews\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">student reviews<\/a>. After just 6 months of study in our fully flexible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/data-analytics-career-track\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Data Analytics Bootcamp<\/a>, we\u2019ll boost you into a job in the field or your tuition back. Get started now with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/resources\/learning-paths\/data-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free data analytics course<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every time you turn on your TV to watch a game, you\u2019ve likely noticed the sports analysts\u2014the voices providing side stories, commentary, and statistics with each play. If you have a passion for sports and a head for statistical analysis, you may be wondering how to become a sports analyst. There are many routes to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":18657,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_eb_data_table":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[134],"tags":[],"marketing_tags":[1464],"class_list":{"0":"post-14371","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-data-analytics"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14371"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/100"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14371"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49312,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14371\/revisions\/49312"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14371"},{"taxonomy":"marketing_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/marketing_tags?post=14371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}