Sports development officers (SDOs) aim to improve access to sport and physical activity for people of all ages and ability.

They organise projects, programmes, information and training which may focus on any of the following:

• encouraging people to increase their activity and have a healthier lifestyle
• improving the quality of existing provision
• developing skills in the community
• supporting initiatives to reduce crime and rehabilitate young offenders
• improving access to sport for specific groups such as young people, people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged communities
• putting local and national policies into practice.

The activities sports development officers are involved in include:

• working with the local community, professional bodies and national governing bodies of sport (NGBs) to coordinate access to sport and activities and promote leisure events
• identifying the need and demand for new activities
• identifying opportunities for funding
• working with local communities and local organisations to ensure resources are used and all available funding is accessed
• attending meetings, seminars and conferences
• finding and training suitable staff, coaches and volunteers for projects
• organising, promoting and running projects and activities
• monitoring and evaluating projects
• managing resources and budgets
• sometimes coaching or supervising the sports for which they are qualified.

SDOs may promote sport in general, working for a County Sports Partnership or local authority, or may be sports specific development officers (SSDOs), concentrating on a specific sport and working for a NGB.

Hours and Environment

As a sports development officer (SDO) your hours may vary from week to week. you are likely to work some unsocial hours to cover times when most people are able to take part in leisure activities.

You may be based in an office during the day, carrying out the administrative parts of the job, and spend the evenings and weekends visiting community groups, schools, events, sports venues and meetings.

Your work will involve a lot of local travel if you are a SDOs and regional travel if you are a sports specific development officers, so you are likely to need a driving licence.

Although you will not usually join in with the activities you have organised, you may have to be present to ensure they run smoothly. This can involve being outside in all weathers.

Skills and Interests

To be a sports development officer you should:

• be enthusiastic about the benefits of sports and healthy living
• have excellent communication skills
• be confident and efficient working alone or as a member of a team
• have leadership and organisational skills
• be flexible and adaptable
• have good computer and administrative skills
• enjoy working with individuals and groups from all backgrounds and ability levels, and in a range of environments
• be able to think on your feet.

Entry

To become a become a sports development officer (SDO) you are likely to need a degree, preferably in subjects such as:

• sports development
• sports coaching
• sports science
• recreation or leisure management.

Some sports development officers have postgraduate qualifications in subjects such as sports studies, health and exercise sciences or leisure management.

It will be useful if you have a background in coaching - sports development officers are often qualified to coach a number of different sports or activities. You may be able to gain coaching qualifications as part of a degree or HND/HNC. See the Sports Coach and Football Coach profiles for more information on the availability of coaching-related courses.

It is important to be able to demonstrate practical commitment, so you should gain as much experience as possible by volunteering in areas such as:

• sports activities
• coaching
• community and holiday programmes. 

It may also be possible to get unpaid work experience with local sports development officers.

Training

When you have a relevant job you may be able to work towards:

• NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Sports Development awarded by OCR
• NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations: Operations and Development which includes units specific to sports development.

You can keep your knowledge up to date by joining the Institute for Sports, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL) continuous professional development (CPD)programme. Visit the ISPAL website (in Further Information below) for details.

You might find it useful to do courses in marketing, finance and human resource management, as these areas are often important in this type of work.

Opportunities

Organisations which employ sports development officers include:

• local authorities
• youth organisations
• NGBs
• Sports Councils
• universities.

Some positions may only be funded for a limited time, so you may have a short fixed term contract.

With experience, you could be promoted to a senior position, but this is likely to involve relocating. You could move into sport and leisure contracting or into management of health and fitness programmes.

Annual Income

Figures are only intended as a guideline.

Full-time salaries vary depending on experience and specific jobs. They can be between around £16,000 and around £25,000 a year.
For senior positions salaries can be between around £26,000 to over £30,000 a year.

Further information

3rd Floor
Victoria House
Bloomsbury Square
London
WC1B 4SE
Tel: 0845 850 8508
Castlewood House
77-91 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1PX
Advice line: 08000 933300

Leeds Metropolitan University
Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education
Fairfax Hall
Headingley Campus
Beckett Park
Leeds
LS6 3QS
Tel: 0113 283 6162
The Grotto House
Lower Basildon
Reading
RG8 9NE
Tel: 0845 6038734