Sam lived the first 8 years of his life in the United States before moving to Berlin. After graduating from high school, he was not sure about his future studies. He decided to take a gap year and moved back to the United States. There, he worked at a non-profit organisation in New Orleans that focuses on fixing the city’s rainwater problems. After returning to Berlin, Sam started looking for universities. He always wanted to work in the field of professional football, and the Sport Studies programme felt like a good place to start.

Why did you choose Sport Studies?

‘The main factor was my engagement in multiple sports, mainly football. Another thing that piqued my interest were the 3 internships. When l was researching more about the Sport Studies programme, the internship opportunities looked very beneficial. They would allow me to gain experience in different areas.’

Which subjects do you get in the first year?

‘We take theoretical classes like Finance, Marketing, as well as Economics. I think these 3 classes are very beneficial because they give you a mathematical foundation. Classes such as Coaching are good for personal reflection and goal setting. It is important for sport managers to set realistic goals and be able to reflect on yourself to improve your performance or mindset.’

How did you experience the field trip to Cologne in year 1?

‘This trip gave us a wide range of perspectives on parts of the high-performance sport industry. One of the highlights for me was our meeting with the head of youth development for Bayer Leverkusen. He gave us an insight in their youth development programme and the way they operate. Very interesting! We also went to the FIBO Convention, where a variety of companies in the field of Health, Nutrition and Wellness presented their products. Me and a classmate interviewed 3 different companies at this convention about their products. This was really insightful.’

What is your highlight of the study programme so far?

‘For me it has been the variety in sport classes. I am learning all kinds of new sports such as speed skating and mountain biking. All these sports make me think differently about how I play a sport and it is benefitting to try out new things. Additionally, it makes me exercise on a regular basis, which I really enjoy.’

How do you like Amsterdam?

‘I enjoy studying and living in this city. However, I do live pretty far away from campus. It takes me about an hour to commute to school, depending on if I am taking my bike or public transportation. This can be stressful and cause problems occasionally. I have found a few ways to make the commute to school more interesting, for example switching up my biking route to school. The trip allows me to see a lot of the city, and I want to use that as an advantage.’

Do you already have an idea of what you want to do after graduation?

‘My dream is to work for a football club in a position close to the professional team or the stadium. This could be youth management/development, or even social media or brand management. I believe the Sport Studies programme will give me the right tools to fulfil my dream. I am aware that it will take a lot of work, however that motivates me. After attending multiple football games, as well as hearing guest speakers talk about their positions in sport establishments, I feel I am receiving more and more insight on different job positions in football clubs, as well as which ones I would enjoy working at.’

Do you have any tips for upcoming Sport Studies students?

‘Try out new things. Also be open-minded about the sports you play and the people you meet. I have made many new friends since being here. Just have fun and be ready to do a lot of sport.’