Career in Sports Forum
Multi-day career exploration program for current NCAA student-athletes interested in working in college athletics and the broader sports industry.
Audience: Current NCAA student-athletes (third year and above).
About the Program
The Career in Sports Forum is an annual educational program that brings together 200 selected NCAA student-athletes to learn about and explore potential careers in sports, particularly college athletics. This unique three-day forum helps student-athletes chart their career paths as they network with and learn from current athletics professionals.  This three-day program is designed to help student-athletes explore career paths in college athletics and across the sports industry.
What You Will Learn
The forum allows attendees to network with peers and decision-makers at the campus, conference and national levels of college athletics. Content is designed to meet the following program objectives:
- Educate participants on how personal strengths intersect with career opportunities
- Provide participants with tangible experiences that will support their aspirations for a career in sports
- Explore professional and career development strategies to help with the transition to a career in the sports industry
- Introduce the roles of intercollegiate coach, athletics administrator and national governing body staff member
Notable speakers cover a range of topics to help attendees prepare for success as they navigate their futures, including self-awareness and its role in professional development, practical approaches to the sports job search, personal branding, developing a career plan and managing yourself as a professional in the sports industry. Through panels, engaging breakout discussions, keynote presentations and facilitated dialogues, participants leave with a clearer understanding of athletics as a career path and where they may fit within the industry.
Who is Eligible:
- Attendees must be nominated by their school or conference
- Third-, fourth- and fifth-year, as well as graduate student-athletes are eligible to attend
- NCAA member schools may nominate up to five eligible student-athletes to complete the online application
Nominees must have participated in an NCAA-sponsored sport during the current academic year at the time of the application deadline. Eligible student-athletes who will have graduated before the forum dates may participate. Previous Career in Sports Forum participants are not eligible to reapply.
When selecting nominees, schools and conferences are strongly encouraged to consider a diverse slate of student-athletes.
How to Nominate:
Student-athletes are nominated by their institution’s athletics director, senior woman administrator, or student-athlete affairs administrator (as listed in the NCAA Directory). Administrators should speak with interested student-athletes about their career goals before submitting a nomination.
A complete nomination must include:
- Entry of the student-athlete’s name and email address into the Nominator tab in Program Hub
- Confirmation that the student-athlete meets eligibility requirements
- Submission of all required student information through the Program Hub workflow (completed by the student-athlete after nomination)
Once nominated, student-athletes will receive an email directing them to Program Hub, where they will complete their profile and submit all required application materials.
All application materials must be submitted directly by the nominated student-athlete.
Student-athletes who believe they may qualify should reach out to their athletic academic counselor or campus administrator. They can confirm eligibility and guide them through the nomination process.
Quick resources:
Cost
There is no fee for selected participants.
The Career in Sports Forum is offered at no cost to nominated student-athletes selected for the program. The NCAA covers all costs associated with travel, lodging, meals and program materials.
