And that's just a brief list of the careers in the sports and recreation industries. According to the career Web site SportsCareersFinder, the outlook for these careers is good to excellent in all areas.

Passion for athletics and recreation is the prerequisite for any of these careers, of course. But strong writing, speaking and listening skills and skill with statistics are just as important. Professionals in the sports industries gather information, analyze it and share it to inform, motivate and inspire those with whom they work. And since athletics and recreation cross all cultures, being able to appreciate and celebrate diversity is at the core of any athletics professional's work.