Look, we know the sports industry is notorious for competitiveness for what always seems like a limited number of jobs and internships. And we know sports teams will continue to receive 100+ resume for a single unpaid internship. But offering competitive compensation or benefits is not just crucial in attracting top-quality interns, but imperative. Many students can’t afford to move for an unpaid sports internship. Many students can’t afford to do an unpaid internship even in their own city. With the high cost of university education, rising rent fees, and general cost of living, many students are often struggling just to get by.

Let’s break down why this is important and how to effectively structure compensation and benefits to make your sports internship program more appealing.

  1. Paid Internships Are Becoming the Industry Standard
  • Attract High-Quality Candidates: Offering a paid internship signals that you value the intern’s contributions, and it allows you to attract more qualified and motivated candidates. In the sports industry, where many internships are competitive, offering a stipend or hourly wage sets you apart from organizations that only offer unpaid internships.
  • Increase Access for Diverse Candidates: Unpaid internships often limit the pool of applicants to students who can afford to work without financial compensation, which can lead to a lack of diversity. Offering paid internships opens the opportunity to a wider range of students, including those from underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, which can enhance diversity and inclusivity in your organization, and in the sports industry as a whole.
  1. Structure Competitive Compensation
  • Hourly Wages vs. Stipends: Decide whether you will offer hourly wages or a fixed stipend. Hourly wages tend to be more flexible, allowing students to track their time and be paid accordingly, while a stipend offers a set amount for the entire internship. Stipends work well for part-time or project-based internships, whereas hourly wages may be better for full-time or ongoing roles.
  • Compare with Industry Standards: Research the current market rate for internships in the sports industry. Look online at general job boards to gain insight into what other organizations are paying interns. In sports management, marketing, or event operations, typical hourly wages might range from $8 to $25 per hour, depending on location and specific responsibilities.
  • Offer Overtime for Event Days: If interns are required to work on game days, offer overtime pay or additional compensation. This is particularly important for interns in event management, operations, or marketing roles where game-day involvement is essential. It shows that you respect their time and effort, especially during high-pressure events.
  1. Additional Benefits to Enhance the Experience
  • Game Tickets and Merchandise: If financial compensation is limited, offering perks like free game tickets, team merchandise, or access to VIP areas can significantly enhance the internship experience. For example, if your organization hosts games or events, allowing interns to attend for free, bring friends, or enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience adds value.
  • Meals and Travel Allowances: For interns involved in game-day operations, providing meals or travel stipends can make a big difference. Covering transportation costs or offering meal allowances when working during long hours or on game days can demonstrate your organization’s commitment to taking care of its interns.
  • Access to Professional Development Opportunities: Offering access to workshops, webinars, or conferences in the sports industry can be an attractive benefit. Interns can attend events that provide insight into sports business trends, analytics, or marketing strategies. Providing educational resources, like a budget for online courses or certifications, also enhances the internship’s value.
  • Mentorship and Career Coaching: Offer structured mentorship programs where interns are paired with experienced professionals in the organization. Career coaching or resume workshops at the end of the internship can also be valuable. These benefits signal that you are investing in the intern’s future career beyond their time with your organization.
  1. Offer Flexible or Hybrid Work Arrangements
  • Remote Work Options: If your internship involves tasks that can be done remotely, such as marketing, social media management, or data analysis, offering hybrid or fully remote options can be a significant benefit. Many interns value flexibility in their work schedule, especially if they are balancing school and work commitments.
  • Flexible Scheduling Around School Commitments: Even if the internship is primarily in-person, providing flexible working hours to accommodate students’ academic schedules can be a major draw. For example, you could allow interns to adjust their hours based on their class schedules or exam periods.
  • Flexible Summer Scheduling for (Family) Vacation Time: Yes, we’ve seen teams tell interns to not expect any days off in the Summer, not even for vacation. Please don’t do this, especially for unpaid roles! Summer is often the student’s only opportunity outside of holidays to spend a few days with family. At minimum, allow them to inform you ahead of time of potential vacations and time off where they may miss a game.
  1. Offer Academic Credit
  • Collaborate with Universities for Credit-Based Internships: If paying interns is not feasible for your organization, work with universities to offer credit-based internships. Many students need internships for academic credit to fulfill graduation requirements, so providing this option can make your internship more attractive. Just remember that students are often paying for these credits, so if you are not paying the intern the credits are nice, but the student is essentially paying to work the internship. 
  • Ensure Compliance with Credit Requirements: If the internship is for academic credit, ensure you meet the university’s guidelines for learning outcomes, supervision, and reporting. This typically involves setting learning objectives, providing regular feedback, and completing any required evaluations for the student’s university.
  1. Provide a Pathway to Employment
  • Potential for Full-Time Employment: Offering interns the possibility of transitioning to full-time roles can make your internship program more attractive. Even if full-time positions are not guaranteed, highlighting the chance to be considered for future roles or an extended internship can draw in competitive candidates.
  • Career Advancement Opportunities: Be clear about the types of roles interns could move into post-internship and share examples of former interns who have successfully transitioned into full-time roles in your organization or elsewhere in the industry. This can be a significant motivator for interns looking to break into sports as a career.
  1. Offer Certifications or Special Recognition
  • Industry-Recognized Certifications: Offering interns the chance to earn certifications related to their role can be an added benefit. For example, in sports marketing, you could offer Google Analytics certifications, or in event management, provide sports event planning certifications. These credentials add value to the intern’s resume and career prospects.
  • End-of-Internship Recognition: At the conclusion of the internship, offering a formal certificate of completion or recognition at an end-of-season event can be meaningful. You can also highlight top-performing interns on your website or social media, giving them visibility in the sports industry.
  1. Enhance the Learning Experience
  • Hands-On Involvement in Key Projects: Emphasize that interns will be working on real, impactful projects within the organization. Whether they are helping plan an event, managing social media during a live game, or analyzing fan engagement data, offering them the opportunity to contribute to meaningful tasks enhances the experience.
  • Learning and Development Focus: Interns want to leave their positions having gained new skills. Design your internship program so that each intern has clear learning goals and skill-building opportunities, such as event management, sponsorship activations, marketing campaigns, or athlete relations.

Conclusion:

Offering competitive compensation and benefits for sports internships is key to attracting top talent. While paid internships are becoming the norm, additional benefits like flexible work arrangements, game tickets, mentorship, and access to professional development opportunities can make your internship stand out. By compensating interns fairly and enhancing their experience through perks and growth opportunities, your sports organization can build a successful, sought-after internship program that attracts and retains high-caliber students.