Top sports sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
What to include in your sports resume experience section
Sports resume experience section checklist:
- Use at least 3 and no more than 7 bullet points per position;
- Make your experience sound relevant to what you’re applying for;
- Combine responsibilities, results, and critical situations that you’ve handled well;
- Show that you’re willing to take up on challenges;
- Include numbers in any form you like.
Looking for some real experience section examples? We’ve gathered the best Sports resume samples to help you. Check them out before building your own resume!
- Designed and laid up pages in the print edition on a weekly basis; trained and oversaw a team of 10 reporters
- Awarded the “Sub-editor of the Year” prize at the 2015 NUSU Media Awards
- Author of weekly feature column “Peek of the Week” inspecting bizarre moments from the sporting world
- Reported on the British Universities & Colleges Sport and Intramural Leagues
- Developed and wrote the first and only soccer-specific weekly column in West Virginia newspapers.
- Won first place in the West Virginia Press Association Awards in the category of best sports news reporting.
- Provided relevant sports coverage for more than 20 high schools in southern West Virginia.
- Working with high variety of sports that requires high level of multi-tasking
- Checking if the statistics of the sports match our sources and our clients.
- Engaging customers requests,writing daily reports and emails
- Examined and analyzed registration data to develop analytics on attendees
- Drafted weekly blog posts that generated excitement for their conference
- Delegated on-site volunteers during SXsports events that hosted 3000+ attendees
- Conducted 100+ award-winning interviews that have been featured on Forbes and Yahoo
- Recruited top sportswriters to join one of the most popular sports blogging networks
- Assembled guests for 50 radio shows for personal site and other network shows
- Consolidated the team from a number of locations and relocating them to Malaga.
- Built a team from (Development, QA, QAA, BA, Dev Ops, PM's) 23 to 65+.
- Created a brand new in house "Sportsbook".
- Increased my portfolio revenue by 22% despite economic turmoil
- Managed all of the strategic and key Suzuki accounts as well as other OEM accounts - over $250 million in assets
- Recognized over 12 times for external focus, expertise & imagination
- Reached top four in Olimpiade Universitas Indonesia 2015 with 11 golds, 2 silvers and 3 bronzes.
- Reached top three in Universitas Indonesia Art War 2015.
- Applied balance scorecard in evaluating department's performances.
- Revise the organization's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in order to adapt with changes circumstances
- Upgraded one sport community status to become a legitimate organization
- Revived the indoor hockey community by recruiting members, from less than four members until more than 15 members
- The indoor hockey team reached the semi-final in the Universitas Indonesia Olympics 2013
- Solely responsible for the administration, supervision, instruction, and direction of the Sports Department
- Allocated revenue and budgeted expenses related to the YMCA of Plano Sports Department
- Coordinated all Adult and Youth sports, including but not limited to scheduling, staffing, and time card approval
- Carry out daily program tasks related directly to the position's scope and responsibility
- Stay updated on current issues regarding Youth Sports/ Youth Soccer, Basketball and baseball
- Supervised the behavior and conduct of the members and staff and ensured they comply with set protocols and ethic standards
- Maintained appropriate records, files, and invoices relative to fitness classes, equipment, and the needs of the gym on a daily basis
- Provide assistance to the chief director in day- to- day administration of the athletics department
- Interacted with new Members to conduct an athletic orientation into the facility.
- Planned section for NMU’s independent student-run newspaper from concept to finish
- Managed writers and assigned articles
- Took photographs to accompany articles
- Edited articles for grammatical and typographical errors
- Designed sports section using Adobe InDesign
- Created and developed strategic documents
- Established procedures for the selection of educational, cultural, sports and youth projects
- Organized programs and activities for children and youth
- Program coordinator for the implementation of the municipal Local action plan for youth 2016-2021
- Improved cooperation with international organizations
- Maintain Product Lifecycle Management systems
- Monitor and work to maintain desired margin by product category
- Attend all counter sample meetings to review product at all stages of development
- Create and maintain seasonal visual line plans
- Maintain communication between the merchandising, development, planning and sales departments
- Build outfits/styling for photo shoots, visual merchandising and trade shows
- Generate competitive analysis reports based on competitors and previous seasons' sales
- Responsible for global coordination, order entry and merchandising of salesman sample lines
- Create, edit and proof product information for seasonal workbooks
PRO TIP
In writing your Sports resume, you will no doubt want to list your previous duties - as you should. But steer clear of just listing your duties, instead of your achievements. Make your resume stand out by communicating what you have done, and not merely what the job needed you to do.
Action verbs for your sports resume
Recommended reads:
Top sports skills for your resume
Sports resume skills section checklist:
- Match your hard skills to the job description;
- Add keywords to pass applicant tracking systems;
- Don’t list soft skills such as ’teamwork’ – rather, mention how they’ve helped you gain success in some other sections of your Sports resume;
- List only skills you actually have, keep lying out of the picture.
Top skills for your sports resume
MS Office
Coaching
Knowledge of sports games
Tactics
Fieldside safety
Game Planning
Competitor Analysis
Communication
Self confidence
Persistence
Planning
Time management
Patience
Tolerance
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Sports resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your sports resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Sports resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Craft a strong sports resume summary
Sports resume summary checklist:
- Your total years of experience
- The industry you’re coming from
- One or two most remarkable accomplishments that have helped you - turn into a great professional
- Short sentences that add value – avoid filler words and phrases
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
Recommended Reads:
Highlight your education, certifications, and courses
What to include in your education and courses sections:
- Your highest education degree – this includes institution, course, and duration
- Certifications and courses that have helped you gain additional expertise
- Awards you’ve received as part of your education
- Entry-level positions only: relevant classes and projects
Top Certifications for your sports resume

Sports Management: The Essentials Course
A Comprehensive Overview at How the Sports Industry Operates and the Challenges Facing the Modern Sports Industry Today

Sports Management: Strategy and Performance
A Detailed Look at How Businesses and Sports Organisations Plan and Build Strategies to Improve Performances

Sports Broadcasting
An inside look into this exciting industry! For sports fans, aspiring sportscasters or established professionals.

Fully Accredited Professional Sports Psychology Diploma
Understanding The Psychology Of Sport With Powerful Techniques To Overcome Blocks & Achieve Your Goals In Sport!

Sports Management: Data and Analytics
Learn the Concepts Behind Data Analytics and How They Can be Used to Produce Better Results On and Off the Pitch
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Sports. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
Drafting a Job-winning Sports Resume
When drafting your resume, you can choose between three well-known formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Which format you decide to go for depends on two things: your personal preference and how experienced you are.
The reverse-chronological format is ideal for both really experienced people and those who joined the workforce just a couple of years ago. It’s also great if your experience combines different industries and jobs. Here, your most recent position comes at the top of your resume.
The functional skills-based resume format, on the other hand, is ideal for recent graduates or people who have no work experience whatsoever. It’s built around your skills, interests, and expertise. Ultimately, its goal is to show recruiters your biggest strengths and practical skills.
Combination resumes (also known as hybrid resumes) are great for all types of candidates – be they graduates, experienced professionals, or brave career changers. They usually follow a double-column format – one side focuses on your experience, while the other emphasizes your education, skills, interests, and accomplishments.
Here’s our resume format and style checklist:
- Choose a traditional resume font sized 12p;
- Go for standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Match the length of your Sports resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates;
- Send your resume in PDF – in this way, you’ll avoid formatting issues and potential editing from third parties.
And in case you want to go the extra mile, check out our guide for crafting a resume that stands out.
Recommended reads.":
PRO TIP
Sometimes you’ll want to go after a job which requires more experience than you have. Instead of using a typical Sports resume layout, you can use a creative layout. Getting noticed is the most important challenge and a creative resume layout might help you get invited for an interview as most of other accountants have boring resume designs.
Other sections worth including in your sports resume
Including other sections in your resume depends on the company, the position, and, ultimately, the industry. Here are some sections that will help you spice things up:
A sports resume that stands out
Recruiters look at tens of resumes every day. That’s why helping them remember yours is crucial for landing an interview.
A creative resume can help you show off both your personality and your expertise at the same time.
Creative sections about passions, favorite books, quotes, and even your daily routine are a great way to make your resume feel like a breath of fresh air.
What’s more, it will also point recruiters to the fact that you’re attentive to detail and can think outside the box of Word-generated black and white resumes.
What makes a great sports resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
Sports resume examples
Explore additional sports resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Role
Athletic Director
Athletic Director position has its roots in the athletic coaching and management fields. Therefore, trends in sports management and coaching affect the global trend of athletic direction.
To make an impact while applying for Athletic Director jobs, consider these tips:
- Highlight your experiences with different athletic programs. It could be high school football, college basketball or even community sports programs. These experiences show your competency in managing athletic events.
- On your resume, prioritize your sports management skills. Do not just list them, illustrate how these skills have brought about successful outcomes, such as enhanced team performance or increased game attendance.
- Emphasize your leadership abilities. Most Athletic Directors are expected to lead teams of coaches and athletes. Present instances where you have led teams to success. Remember to use a pattern of “skill-action-results.
- Don't just mention your certification, explain how you've utilized it. For instance, Athletic Administration Certification and how it improved your overall program managing.
View Athletic Director Resume
Lifeguard
In essence, the Lifeguard position grew from the rescue and swimming instructing disciplines. This explains why trends in these areas impact Lifeguard trends.
For a compelling application for Lifeguard jobs, consider the following:
- Highlight your experience with different lifesaving techniques. Experience in these areas proves your competency in ensuring safety.
- Prioritize emergency medical skills on your resume. Mention any CPR and First Aid certifications you have and how you've effectively used them. Show, don’t just tell.
- Detail your physical conditioning. As a lifeguard, you’ll need to be in top shape. Therefore, list physical activities and sports you participate in that contribute to your physical fitness.
- Just as important are your attention and supervision skills. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed large groups in water areas by using your keen attention to detail.
- Remember the “skill-action-results” approach.
View Lifeguard Resume