So, You Want to Work in Sports?: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Sports Industry

Gr 4–6—The sports-related careers profiled here are wide ranging, from high school PE teacher and athletic director to trainer, agent, and sportscaster, as well as scout, official, and facilities manager. A final chapter outlines some less-obvious options, including archivist and bicycle mechanic. Information is presented dynamically, with numerous sidebars ("Did you know…"), graphs, lists, a career quiz, and hand-drawn illustrations. There are no photos. One of the book's strongest assets is its excellent resource section, including a six-page list of websites for professional organizations (some of them general, others very specialized, such as the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators) and two pages of books and online documents. Much of the advice from working professionals is insightful and solid: take classes in speech and drama, foreign languages, and business, and a strong emphasis is placed on English and math. Several of the interview subjects recommend volunteer work to gain experience and set oneself apart as a job candidate. Honest perspectives are provided on sometimes low pay and long hours, though subjects are uniform in their enthusiasm for their work. One flaw is that the "Big League" profiles are presented as formal interviews, with each subject asked the same questions ("What is a typical day like for you?"). The answers sometimes read like written responses to a survey, and, with no follow-ups, can be cliché-ridden and uneven. Despite some issues, this is a useful guide for those considering entering the field.—Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA