Personal health, fitness and well-being is increasingly a priority for many. Sport is integral to Irish society with the highest ever recorded number of adults participating in sport. Over one billion people are using technology to monitor and improve their health and fitness.
This has resulted in a wide variety of diverse careers in the expanding Health, Fitness and Leisure sector. This sector would suit you if you enjoy encouraging and supporting people to live a healthy, active lifestyle and get the most out of their leisure time
Opportunities exist in hotels, leisure centres, spas, gyms, sports clubs, health & fitness studios, youth clubs, community centres and local authorities. If you are passionate about health and fitness you might enjoy working as a coach, instructor, personal trainer or health and fitness consultant. It can be very rewarding to observe an individual or team progress as they master new skills or achieve personal goals. A career in this sector can offer a lot of flexibility and freedom. Some personal trainers or instructors offer individual sessions, working hours to suit their own lifestyle or even travelling overseas to work in holiday resorts or on cruise liners
Targets to further increase the number of participants taking part and volunteering in sport are laid out in the government’s Sport Action Plan. More coaches and instructors will be required in all sports to work with both amateurs and professionals. The growth of professionalism in sports coaching has resulted in a big increase in certified coaches. Whether working in the leisure sector, as a volunteer with a local club, or as a professional in the sports and fitness industry, there are plenty of options.
Many of the sixty five national governing bodies recognised by Sport Ireland have Sports Development Officers, who work in the community to promote football, rugby, cricket and GAA, as well as boxing, cycling, tennis and sailing to name but a few sports. They offer a huge variety of coaching, leadership courses and workshops with opportunities to train in areas such as disability sports development. For information on education and training opportunities check out Sport Ireland Coaching. If you enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds, the tourism sector also offers a wide range of options such as working in outdoor activity centres and theme parks, helping others to enjoy their leisure time.
With significant growth in digital fitness and wellbeing devices you may be interested in a career in Sports Technology or developing a business online as part of the surge of social media influencers and fitness communities.
There are many different routes to enter a career in this sector. Part-time and further education courses can offer progression to higher education. This can lead to careers in areas such as health promotion, nutrition, sports science, sports management, rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Gaining work experience in a leisure centre, volunteering in a sports club or working in summer camps can help you get a foothold in the industry.
The transferable skills you will gain from being involved in the sports, health & fitness sector, such as hard work, perseverance and teamwork, will benefit you whatever career you choose to pursue.