Join fellow athletes, sports fans, and promoters as you explore how to turn your passion for sports into a viable career off-the-field. Star athletes don’t gain fame and fortune accidentally and big-time sporting events don’t just happen. It’s extremely hard work, and you’ll see why as you get an insider’s view of the twists and turns of the sports world at the National Student Leadership Conference on Sports Management.
Program Highlights
Off-the-field opportunities
Learn how your love of sports can turn into a successful career as an agent, sportswriter, broadcaster, or stadium manager.
Client management
Guide your athlete through new contracts, endorsements, and public relations issues as they build their career.
Business fundamentals
Workshops in negotiation, conflict resolution, advertising, PR, and event marketing prepare you for the big leagues.
Venue visits
Go behind the scenes at well-known stadiums and hear from team officials and event managers.
Dates & Locations
Note: Space is limited. Please login to the online application to see up-to-date session availability.

Columbia University
- July 12 - July 20
- July 24 - August 1
NSLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Columbia University.

Duke University
- June 11 - June 19
- June 23 - July 1
The NSLC is not sponsored by Duke University.
Hands-on Simulations
The NSLC on Sports Management high school program uses an interactive approach to learning that gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the challenging complexities of the sports world. You and your team will experience the ups and downs of managing the career of a star athlete during a realistic client management simulation. You will control your client’s fortunes as you negotiate contracts, land sponsorship deals, and manage public opinion.
Our college-level lecture series will give you a foundation of knowledge on sports management.
Topics include:
- Introduction to the Business of Sports
- Sports Research and Broadcasting
- Sports Law
- Event Management
- Sponsorships and Corporate Development
- Marketing and Public Relations
Meet Sports Industry Leaders
While at the NSLC, you will meet with and learn from leaders in the world of sports and entertainment management. In past years, NSLC students have heard from special guest speakers including top executives and managers from the International Olympic Committee, D.C. United and the Staten Island Yankees.
Jessica Berman
Vice President, National Hockey League
Aaron Cohen
Emmy Award-Winning Sports Writer and Producer, HBO, ESPN
Marc Raiken
Senior Director of Athlete Marketing & Sales, Wasserman Media Group
Carla Varialle Esq.
Partner, HRRV
Nathaniel Walsh
Senior Director, ESP Properties
Rick Resnick
VP for Sports Marketing, Univision
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
An important part of the NSLC is seeing the sites around some of our nation’s greatest cities. These trips are designed as both sight-seeing tours and exclusive educational trips specifically tailored to the area of Sports Management:
Columbia University
MetLife Stadium | Madison Square Garden | MLB Studios | New York Yankees or Mets Game | Radio City Music Hall | Rockefeller Center | Times Square
Duke University
Duke Athletics Tour | UNC Athletics Tour | West Campus | Franklin Street | Durham Bulls Game
Leadership Training
At the heart of the NSLC is a leadership curriculum designed to build concrete leadership skills that will help you succeed. Interactive lectures and small-group workshops will give you an opportunity to build upon your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
Leadership topics tailored to the Sports Management program include:
- Personality Styles and Group Dynamics
- Conflict Resolution
- Negotiation
- Public Speaking
- Intrapersonal Communication
College Credit Option
American University (AU) and NSLC have a unique partnership that enables you to earn college credit by enrolling in a supplemental online course designed to correlate with your NSLC program’s area of study. By enrolling in this credit course, you will enjoy a stimulating, innovative, and personalized college-level learning experience that builds on your NSLC accomplishments. The course is for one credit and is taught in a self-paced, asynchronous format across six weeks, allowing ample time to complete assignments. The course is designed to work within the framework of NSLC; students are not expected to complete coursework while on campus. Students may register for college credit via their personal student portal (myNSLC) once they have enrolled in an NSLC session.
Click here to learn more about this opportunity.
Tuition
Program tuition includes housing, all on-campus meals, course materials, academic expenses, and activities. Tuition also includes chartered, air-conditioned motor coaches for off-campus briefings and tours. Note: Students are responsible for the cost of travel to and from the program as well as individual spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and a few off-campus meals during fields trips and tours.
Click here to view our cancellation and refund policy.
Location | Tuition |
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Durham | $3,795 |
New York City | $3,945 |