Sports Science is a multidisciplinary field that applies science to improve not only the performance of athletes but also to enhance the fitness and wellbeing of all members of society. If you are passionate about sport and helping others to improve their health, Sports Science opens up many different career options. You may coach a team or work with elite athletes to achieve their performance goals or prevent injury. You may prefer to work in the community with people of all ages. This could involve helping manage challenging working conditions. Others may need encouragement to lead a healthy, active lifestyle to help prevent, treat and manage medical conditions. You may have an interest in research in Ireland or overseas, to meet global health challenges such as obesity, or improve the quality of life for people living with cancer or chronic pain.
Sports Science is a varied, broad area of study comprising sport and exercise, physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, genetics, medicine, psychology, health and physical activity. The transferable skills you will gain such as communication, critical thinking, research, data analysis and teamwork, will open varied and interesting career paths. As a Sports Scientist you may work in different working environments such as national governing bodies, professional sports clubs, schools and universities, recreation centres, sports technology companies,fitness clubs and the health sector.
Career options include areas such as sports performance, sports therapist, sports coaching and development, personal trainer, strength and conditioning, laboratory technician, clinical exercise, physical education teacher, rehabilitation, research and health promotion to name but a few.
You may wish to continue your education with a master’s or doctorate in advanced entry medicine, physiotherapy, exercise physiology, elite sport, health promotion, psychology and nutrition amongst others.
Check out a day in the life of a Sports Scientist inside camp with the Republic of Ireland or how Sports Scientists in the US worked with firefighters to improve their strength and stamina.