How to Get Into Football Action: Career, Traveling, or Something Else?
Admire the vibes and heat of the football world? Dream of getting closer to the stars? What stops you?
I get it: you are not that into concussions and sprained ankles that go with a football player’s career. Well, but there’s a way out: you can choose any other football-related activities that keep you close to the action without taking a hit on the field.
I’m here to tell you about your options: building a football-related career, traveling with your favorite teams, and having crypto football betting as a hobby.
And don’t worry that Google confused you again by showing an article on soccer instead of American football or vice versa. Here, I’ll cover both sports and tell you all about the pros and cons of every option.
Let’s talk about careers first.
Football professions of a dream
Here is my list of exciting behind-the-scenes professions to dream about and, if you get one, to show off to friends.
Sportswriter
A sportswriter covers everything from game recaps to deep player profiles, controversies, and game analysis. They have to be observant, sharp, and good with deadlines. In soccer, they might cover transfer rumors, while in American football, they’ll dive deep into the draft or dissect that fourth-quarter Hail Mary.
Jim Murray was a sportswriter to look up to with his clever writing about every major game, interviews with the biggest sports (and not only) stars, and Pulitzer for commentary (no sportswriter won a Pulitzer before or after him). Working US sportswriters you might be inspired by are Tom Withers, Jeff Darlington, Dana Jacobson, and Lindsay Czarniak.
As for soccer sportswriters, you might want to pay attention to Fabrizio Romano, who stands out for breaking transfer news, or David Ornstein, who is known for his in-depth reporting on Premier League clubs.
Coach
They are the masterminds behind the tactics. The coach develops strategies, decides lineups, and motivates the team. In soccer, you typically have one head coach and a few assistants handling things like goalkeeping, defense, or fitness.
In American football, it’s like a mini-army: a head coach plus offensive, defensive, and special teams coordinators, along with a bunch of position coaches (quarterbacks, wide receivers, linebackers, etc.). The head coach in football has to balance all the roles, while the soccer coach tends to be more of a solo artist with a few key assistants.
Don’t worry if you’re not a player. Even though it’s common for ex-players to become coaches as they have a head start, it isn’t obligatory. You need to get an education in sports (not necessarily football) and know everything about rules, tactics, and coaching techniques in football.
And even though the base salary doesn’t look so promising, you can earn tremendous money if you get to the top level. For example, Nick Saban, now retired college and professional football coach, made $11.4 million in 2023. The same goes for soccer coaches: in 2024, Gareth Southgate made $6.3 million even though England lost in Euro 2024 to Spain.
So, the job of a coach offers very promising career opportunities.
Sports anchor
The face on TV! A sports anchor delivers game highlights and interviews and sometimes adds a little flavor with opinions. Think of them as the bridge between the fans and the action. They cover both American football and soccer, but American football might get a bit more in-depth coverage with slow-mo replays and more detailed play breakdowns.
Watch some of the best anchors in American football, like Chris Berman, Rich Eisen, and Al Michaels, to learn from the best and try on the role of sports anchor. Or, if you’re into soccer, you want to watch Gary Lineker, Rebecca Lowe, and Kate Abdo to see the best of the profession.
Broadcaster
Broadcasters work in the same field as sports anchors but with a little different specifics. They’re the voice in your ear, narrating the game’s twists and turns.
In soccer, broadcasters keep the commentary running through 90 continuous minutes of action. In American football, there’s time between plays for deeper analysis, stats, and replay, and the broadcaster can participate in entertaining banter and expert breakdowns.
Some of the broadcasters you might’ve heard of are John Madden (the iconic voice of the NFL till 2021), former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, and a long-time CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz. If you are more of a soccer fan, you are probably familiar with the voices of Martin Tyler, Clive Tyldesley, and Andrés Cantor and his famous “GOOOOL!” call.
Referee
The most loved and hated person on the field, depending on who you’re asking. Soccer referees run the entire length of the field, making calls on fouls, offsides, and goals. American football has a team of referees, each with a specific job (like line judges, back judges, etc.). Also, soccer refs can add stoppage time, while American football referees are more involved with stopping and starting the clock throughout the game.
Looking at world-known referees, you might think becoming one is almost impossible. But getting into this profession isn’t that difficult — just take a referee training available in your local community. Progressing to the top level is more challenging but not impossible, especially if you join professional communities like the Regerees’ Association and commit to your role.
Some of the most recognizable American football referees to look up to are Ed Hochuli, Gene Steratore, and Jerome Boger. If you’re looking for a soccer referee to follow their career for inspiration, you want to look at Pierluigi Collina, Howard Webb, and Björn Kuipers.
Athletic trainer
Athletic trainers are the first to react to players’ injuries. In both sports, they’re on the sidelines, ready to rush out, assess injuries, and provide first aid. Due to the heavy physical contact in American football, they might deal more with concussion protocols. Soccer trainers deal with many hamstring pulls, ankle sprains, and the occasional dreaded ACL tear.
But accessing injuries isn’t their main job. They are also responsible for training athletes after injuries to ensure they can return to the field as soon as they are fully healed and ready to play.
Talent scouter
The scout is always on the lookout for the next big thing. In soccer, scouts can be international, combing the globe for rising stars. In American football, scouts are focused on college talent or free agents.
Considering that a rooky athlete can grow into a world-class football player, talent scouters have a job with lots of responsibility that requires attention to detail and some kind of “third eye” to see the future of young talent.
Dietitian, rehabilitator, masseuse, and other supporting personnel
These are the people who keep players in peak physical condition. A dietitian ensures players are fueled with the right nutrition, which is key in both soccer and American football, though the needs differ slightly due to the nature of the sports.
Rehabilitators and masseuses focus on recovery. Soccer players need more stamina and endurance training, while American football players bulk up for explosive strength, so the work of these professionals can be a little more tailored to the type of game the players are involved in.
There are many more less-known but important jobs that make football in what we know, including:
- analysts, who access everything from teams’ and players’ performance to the financial state of the team
- sports psychologists, who help players and coaches manage stress
- stadium operations managers and groundskeepers, who prepare facilities for the matches
- sports agents who promote specific players
- team chefs, marketers, accountants, and others
So, you might want to check if your skills can be applied to a football field.
One more important thing: all the salaries stated here are from Glassdoor and are just an average base pay, and different bonuses can sometimes double or even triple this sum. This is especially true if you work for big teams and leagues that regularly get good investments.
Now, let’s talk about another option of joining the football fun — traveling with teams.
Traveling with your favorite football team: Pros and cons
If you’re a die-hard fan, traveling with your favorite football team from match to match is one of the best ways to be as close to the action as possible without actually being on the team. It’s an experience like no other, but there are a few things to keep in mind before packing your bags.
First, there are some pros:
- Spirit of the game: Nothing beats the energy of a live match. You are part of the crowd that sings, chants, cries, and even breathes in one rhythm. If you experience this spirit of unity once, you want to relive it again and again.
- Some travel fun: Traveling to new cities (or even countries) is a great way to explore new places while supporting your team. It’s like a mini vacation but with a football match.
- Fan community: You can bond with fellow fans, sharing the highs and lows, making friends for life, and creating memories at each destination.
- Exclusive perks: Official fan clubs and travel groups often offer special perks like meet-and-greets, exclusive merch, or even behind-the-scenes stadium tours.
But here are also the cons:
- Only spending and no earning: Between tickets, travel, accommodation, and food, the expenses can stack up quickly. And unlike a football career, traveling can be more fun, but you don’t earn anything.
- Time away from home: Traveling for matches can take up your weekends, and for international games, you might need to take extra days off work. Your employer and family might not appreciate this side of your hobby.
- Logistics hassles: From flight delays to overbooked hotels, traveling isn’t always smooth, and coordinating everything can be stressful, especially for high-demand games.
So, while the fun of following your team on the road is hard to beat, this option isn’t for everyone. But one other option can fit all — Bitcoin football betting.
Football betting with Bitcoin: Easy fun in a few clicks
Online crypto football betting is a tempting option to consider as a career or full-time interest, but please don’t. Since betting can’t give you a stable source of income no matter how good you’re at it, it’s wiser not to rely on it too much and just consider it a hobby.
Having football betting as a hobby is a cool option for a few reasons:
- You know everything about football, players, leagues, and other nuances since you need them to make a winning bet.
- You might earn some extra cash (and not only spend, like with most hobbies).
- You can accurately predict the outcomes of most matches and play oracle for your friends to show off.
And hey, when I talk specifically about crypto betting and Bitcoin betting, I have a few reasons for this, too:
- Football betting with crypto is safer as blockchain technology makes betting transparent, and smart contracts ensure you get your payouts.
- Football betting with Bitcoin or other crypto is quicker as no banks process your payouts for days between your e-wallet and crypto football betting sites.
- Whether it’s soccer or American football betting, you pay smaller fees with Bitcoin because third parties are not involved.
So, there are lots of perks, but you need to follow a few rules to make betting actually your hobby and ensure it’s safe for you.
Have fun the way you like
You can stop training your kicks if you feel being a football player is not your cup of tea. You have plenty of options for getting into football action without stepping onto the field. Check your available vacancies and your skill set, and maybe you can already land your dream job and connect your life with sports. Or, if you’re into traveling, pack your bags and follow your favorite team on the tour.
You can also stay where you are and become a little closer to sports with football crypto betting as a hobby. Betting on football with Bitcoin is so easy that with a little research and experience, you can enjoy this hobby the same way you would enjoy being a part of the football world as a professional, but with less stress.
