According to the Princeton Review…..
Sports managers spend their time behind the scenes coordinating all business-related activities for the team that employs them. During the playing season they may work seven days a week. When they work for college or professional teams they stay behind in their office at the team’s home facility while the team travels to away games. A few who have been in the business for many years travel with the team from city to city, but they are the exception. During the off-season, the manager is busy negotiating trades and signing free agents. The sports manager or general manager, as he/she is sometimes called, signs all players to the professional team. According to one successful manager, “It is more important to know which deals not to make than which deals you should make.” This is often the most delicate aspect of the job, as a manager must make deals that satisfy the owners, without alienating any of the players.
Managers who work for a professional sports team are involved in the yearly ritual of drafting college players. They work closely with the coach and scouts to determine which players are the most talented, economically feasible, and play positions the team needs. Managers must do this while keeping an eye on the team’s budget. They are in charge of everyone’s salary, from the coach and players down to the assistants. They also make financial arrangements for travel, equipment, and uniform purchases and must factor into their budgets player injury and the possible team success that leads to additional playing and travel costs. Sports managers have to participate in press conferences and explain the reasons for their decisions to the media, without giving away their intentions for the future. They may be the subject of both complimentary and critical press reports which they must be able to ignore. When they sign a great player, they are considered heroes. When a respected player leaves the team or slides into a losing streak, managers are often seen as contributing to the team’s downfall. Managers should expect to be fired and forced to relocate a number of times during their careers. For all of these reasons, this is a highly stressful job.
