High Tech Hot Shots: Careers in Sports Engineering

A fresh way to look at a career in sports for the student with a passion for athletics and an aptitude for engineering.

Over 20 sports engineering career profiles that highlight new opportunities

Inspirational, real-life engineering success stories

Explanations of how engineering innovations can play a major role in athletic success and broaden your horizons

A "Getting Started" chapter that tells how you can ease the transition from student to successful engineer

Employer Web sites and contat information for every sport and a large recommended-reading section that connects you to sports engineering

Learn how to turn the love of sports into a lucrative engineering career.

Consider this book a gateway. It is designed to open your mind to the wonders of engineering. You will see, first hand, the hundreds of things that you can do with an engineering degree and an interest in sports. You will discover opportunities you hadn't thought about, and you may even begin to look at engineering in a new way. Be prepared to get excited and to learn that engineering can give you a new and different way of seeing the world.

Written for middle school, high school and pre-engineering college students, this book compiles resources, information, and stories of engineers who work passionately in the sports industry to design new and improved products for athletes and spectators, alike. Ranging from the design and construction of stadiums and courses to the design and manufacture of skateboarding, golf, swimming, and skiing equipment, as well as shoe design and much more, you will understand what you need to know to work in this industry and find a satisfying and rewarding job as a sports engineer.

This book presents possibilities you never expected. You will see what types of engineers create your favorite sports equipment and find out how to identify companies that will hire you as an engineer. From the software engineers who design scoreboards to the materials engineers who work on new helmets to the mechanical engineers who create new "extreme sports" products, the sports industry has a place for almost every type of engineer. You will learn what it takes to design sporting goods and get advice from engineers about how to succeed as a sports engineer. A strong motivation for writing this book is to help you see that engineering can be fun. It's fun being on the cutting edge of technology, and it's exciting to try to make the world a better place in which to live in.

If you have ever played a team sport, you understand that teamwork is integral to the success of the team. Each player brings different strengths to the team, without which the team can't function as efficiently. Engineering design works in the same way. Each member of the team contributes, according to his or her individual strengths, and, as a result, the learning produces an excellent product.

A vital component of engineering success, especially in the sports engineering industry, is excellent communication skills. As explained by Jennifer Ocif, a performance footwear engineer at Reebok International Ltd., "Communication is a life skill that constantly needs attention and improvement. Unfortunately, it is not specifically taught in engineering classes, but you can learn it by doing it anywhere. You just have to work at it, because, no matter how smart you are, if you can't communicate with the people you work with, your ideas will never go anywhere."

Because the sports industry is so large, I can't cover every sport in this book. Some sports may be left out entirely and some descriptions may leave you craving more information. If you find yourself in the craving-more-information category, use that energy to your benefit. Contact the manufacturers listed to inquire about summer work or co-op opportunities. Tour facilities and begin talking to engineers for tips on getting through school and for gathering information about what they do now. Take apart your favorite piece of equipment to figure out how it works. Then, you'll truly begin to think and work like a sports engineer. Don't be afraid to fail a few times, either.

Thomas Edison was one of the most prolific inventors of all time. What made Edison so great was that he believed that every failure brought him closer to success. As a result of a lifetime of work and tens of thousands of failures, he held over 1,000 patents for his successful inventions. Failure is a rite of passage to success.

Some of the most amazing inventions and technologies on the market today exist because one engineer had an idea. Look back at old pictures of the bicycle. People wanted it to go faster, they wanted it to go down mountains and wanted it to be more comfortable. The difference is engineering. Year after year, engineers returned to the drawing board and made the bicycle better. What will bicycles look like in another 10 years? It's up to you and your imagination to make the world a better place-a place that is safer, more fun, and enjoyable for everyone.

If you want an exciting and diverse career, an engineering degree can blow open the doors of opportunity.
So lace up your running shoes and let's get going….

Celeste Baine is a biomedical engineer and director of the Engineering Educations Service Center, a compnay dedicated to the advancement of engineering education. she is also editor of "The Pre-Engineering Times" monthly newsletter and author of "Is There an Engineer Inside You: A Comprehensive Guide to Career Decisions in Engineering," and "The Fantastical Engineer: A Thrillseeker's Guide to Careers in Theme Park Engineering."