Youngsters no longer want to become a Dhoni or a Yusuf Pathan, and one has Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket to blame for it.
Youngsters are eyeing offbeat professions in sports medicine, management
Youngsters no longer want to become a Dhoni or a Yusuf Pathan, and one has Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket to blame for it. Not that they have taken a dislike to cricket, but the glitzy IPL series has opened up a plethora of career options in sports — options that are off-the-beaten-pitch.
Career counsellors across the city concede that students now want to try their hand at managing a sports team or a sports personality, rather than wanting to become sportspersons themselves.
“Earlier, youngsters coming for career counselling would often mention how they wanted to be a cricketer. This year, after IPL caught their attention, students are asking for career advice on how to become the manager of an IPL team,” said Parvin Sheikh, a counsellor with Young Buzz, a well-known career counselling organisation.
Even school principals are noticing the trend this year. Principal of Cathedral & John Connon School Meera Isaac said, “Many of my students are looking at careers in sports, not as a player, but in sports medicine or sports management. IPL has generated awareness among students, who are looking at careers like physiotherapist and fitness gurus.”
For teenagers like Varun Sharma, a Std. XII student of HR College, IPL has helped them realise that offbeat career choices exist in sports. “I did not know there was more to cricket than cricketers. The job of managing the team excites me more than being a bowler or a batsman. I think a career as a team manager of a cricket team would be interesting,” he said. Sharma plans to graduate in science and take up a diploma in sports management from Symbiosis.
Even the 150-year-old University of Mumbai has sensed the need and caught up with the trend. “We are introducing BSc in Sports Management this year. Students from all streams can apply from June 10,” said pro vice chancellor AD Sawant. “The course will train students for a career as a referee, trainer, manager or a sportsperson. The syllabus is 20% theory and 80% practical work.”
Pervin Malhotra, a Delhi-based career counsellor, has a word of caution for students. “I will not advice students to narrow down their options at graduation level. Specialisation at post-graduate level is more desirable as they have the option to change their career if necessary,” she said.
r_priya@dnaindia.net
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