Sports Resources
Engaging with different types of resources will help you understand your industry on a deeper level.
Caution
When using the resources on this page, continue to evaluate credibility and relevance for your specific audience. A resource can be viewed as credible in one situation but questionable in another. Additionally, many of these resources contain content marketing, which should never be used, and opinion pieces, which are often unreliable. Finally, the quality of online resources can change without notice. No matter where you learn about an information resource, always evaluate it carefully.
Professional Organizations
Professional organizations and trade associations promote their industries and provide networking opportunities to members. Their websites offer information and educational materials of use to professionals in the industry.
The following examples are professional organizations for professionals in sports-related fields:
Trade Publications
Trade journals or trade magazines provide targeted information to professionals working in a specific field or industry, making them useful for outsiders to gain insights about that field.
The following examples are trade publications with a focus on sports:
- Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal
Popular Magazines
Popular magazines, although aimed at a general audience, can be useful for understanding an industry in a larger context or from a consumer’s point of view.
Popular magazines that may be useful to professionals in sports-related fields include:
Popular magazines that address business and management issues that might be useful include:
Newspapers
Newspapers cover current events relevant to professionals in all fields.
Newspapers with useful sports coverage include:
- USA Today Sports
- The Athletic (from the New York Times)
Websites
Resources don’t always fall into a specific category, but nonetheless can provide useful information.
- CNBC – Sport
- ESPN
- Front Office Sports
- Huddle Up
- Sports Agent Blog
Available in the Westlaw database, which is difficult to link to. Go to the library’s home page and perform a journal search to find the Sports Agent Blog. - Sports Business Radio
- SportsPro
- Spotrac
Podcasts
Most industries have reputable experts who podcast about their chosen field, providing an insider’s look. These types of information resources vary widely and require vetting, but can be credible.
The following resources may offer useful perspectives on sports:
Books
Most industries have notable books that insiders find useful or that have had an influence on that industry. Asking insiders is the best way to find out which books are considered essential in your field.
Here are a few examples of influential sports books:
- Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike (Phil Knight)
- Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey – and Even Iraq – Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World’s Most Popular Sport (Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski)
- Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (Michael Lewis)
Scholarly Journals
Scholarly journals publish in depth research, usually conducted by professors.
There are a couple of scholarly journals focused on different aspects of the sports industry:
On this page
Related pages
More information
This guide details strategies for effective workplace communication and approaches for research in professional settings.