Sports Associations

Many sports associations have been formed to promote unity amongst and provided financial and career protection for specific types of roles associated with professional sports and the business surrounding them. Associations also work to provide resources to their members and develop networking opportunities at events like annual conferences. Associations can be based on the location of the sports (national or state), the sport itself, the role involved or all of the above with an emphasis on a minority group.

  1. For Players

    • Sports organizations can be for players such as the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA), the Arena Football League Player`s Association (AFLPA) and the Canadian Football League Players Association (CFLPA.) These groups protect the financial interests of players within a league, including salary arbitration, grievances and licensing, usually in the form of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that encompasses health benefits, travel and housing and daily per diems. They oversee safe game playing conditions in local and international settings. Some have career service divisions, offering players advice and pairing them with registered financial advisers. There are a few associations specifically for retired alumni of a given sport.

    For Coaches

    • Sports associations can function to provide resources and assistance to coaches in the case of groups like the National Football League Coaches Association (NFLCA), American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). These all-inclusive associations help coaches attain a spirit of unity in issues related to their sport, help negotiate financial and contractual elements of the job and develop initiative programs for young people to get interested in coaching. Some coaching groups also serve a specific type of coach such as the Black Coaches Association (BCA), the Women`s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA.)

    Marketing, Media and Law

    • The National Sports Marketing Network, the Associated Press Sports Editors, Association for Women in Sports Media, American Sportscasters Association, Football Writers Association of America are examples of sports associations dedicated to those working in print, media, marketing and public relations sectors that work in sports. The Sports Lawyers Association and Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers groups recruit legal professionals specializing in the industry.

    Facility Management

    • Sports associations exist for people working in or around the venues where games are played. Sports facility, management, maintenance and design groups include the International Association of Assembly Managers, Sports Turf Managers Association, National Association of Ticket Brokers and National Association of Concessionaires.

    Sporting Goods

    • Sporting goods associations serve people and companies that make products for professional sporting events. They include the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry and the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers` Association.

    Academic Sports

    • Other sports associations were created to support an academic focus on professional sports. These can be generally affiliated, for example, the Statistics in Sports section of the American Statistical Association or the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, or tied to a particular school's sports studies program.