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BecomingASportsAgent

ConnorReid

EnglishIIIHonors
Mrs.Kopp
February26,2015


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ConnorReid
Mrs.Kopp
EnglishIIIHonors
26February2015
BecomingASportsAgent
Sportsagenthaveappealedtomanyasaviablecareerpathbecausetheprofessionhasa
considerableearningpotentialthatcouldeasilythehundredthousands,anenjoyableworklife,
opportunitytomeetknownathletes,alongwithaneasilymangableamountofresponsibilityand
taskstomanage(Career).Asportsagentsjobsconsistofhandlinganathletesbusiness
inquiries,managingtheirmoney,andnegotiatingcontracts.Inthecurrenteraofsportsathletes
receiveoffersformultimilliondollarcontracts,andregularlyencounterenormouscareer
changingdecisionsthesethingsconsistoftoomuchresponsibilityforanathletetomanage
alone.Andagentsjobtakesovermuchoftheathletesresponsibilities,suchashandlingwith
someoftheirpressurebyprovidinginsightonathletesimmenselycomplicatedbusiness
contracts,theirfinancialdecisions,aswellasacquiringsponsorshipsandendorsementsdealsfor
theathlete(Career).
Sportsagentsexistasalargepartofthesportsworldwhenthefirstagentgothiredbya
playertonegotiateacontractin1925(CFNC).Agentshavenegotiatedcontracts,andchanging
sportsleaguesfordecades.Sportsagentshavealsotriedtocheat.Almosteveryyear
investigatorsdiscoveradifferentagentthatbribedacollegeathletewithmoney,automobiles,
clothes,concerttickets,airlinetickets,insurancepolicies,andevendateswithmodels.Ahighly
illegalactthattypicallyresultsinharshsanctionsagainsttheplayeranduniversity.Theagents


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thatenjoysuccessanddemandrespecthaveapassionateunderstandingofsports,aswellas
businessandfinancialmanagement.Nospecificeducationrequirementsexisttobecomeasports
agent.Avarietyofcollegedegreesandinternshipsprovehelpful,andmanyuniversitiesoffer
sportsmanagementprograms.Mostsportsagentsstarttheircareersbyearningajobatasports
agency.Thisjobattractspeoplewhofeelpassionateforsports,andwanttheopportunitiesto
workwithprofessionalathletes.Asprofessionalsportsbecomemorestronglyrecognized
internationally,theneedforprofessionalrepresentationbecamestronglyneeded.
Sportsagentsfacevariousresponsibilitiestotheirclients,andthemselves.Asportsagent
representsclientscompetinginprofessionalsportsleagues.Agentshandlealloftheoffthefield
dutiesthatathletesstaytoobusytocomplete(CFNC).Agentsdon'tworktypical95deskjob,
agentsmusttraveltomeetpotentialclientsandmeetwithmanagersandclubowners(Sports
AgentWhatTheyDo).Whenagentsdofindthemselvesbehindadesk,theystructurcontracts,
orconstructingpotentialbusinessendorsementsfortheirclient(SportsAgentWhatTheyDo).
Successfulsportsagentsputtheirclientsbeforethemselves.Theclientscareercontrolsthe
successofthepersonrepresentingtheclient.Thecomparisonbetweenanagentsandathletes
seemsimilartoaninvestorandastock,ifthestocksthrivingandgrowing,sodotheinvestors
profits.Anagentsobligatedtotalktoteamowners,coaches,andmanagerstonegotiatetheir
clientthebestdeal(football/sportsagent).Agentswanttheirclientsgettinghighdollar
contractsandendorsementsbecausetheygetpaidincommision.
Agentsalsohandleclientspublicrelationsmatters,andfinances,suchastaxesand
investments(football/sportsagent).Theathletecontrolsthesuccessoftheircareer,butquality
successfulagentswillhelpthatathletereceivebiggercontractsandbusinessinquiresresultingin


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ahighersalaryfortheathleteandagent.Eliteathletesperformatsuchademandinglevel,they
donothavetimeforfinancesandbusinessmatters.Agentsallowtheirclientstodevoteallof
theirfocusandenergytotheirsport.Withoutqualitysportsagents,playerswouldnothavefair
representationofthemselves,causingthemtogetcheatedoutoffaircontracts.Whenanathlete
hasaprofessionalrepresentingthemitcreatesanevenplayingfieldinprofessionalsports.Iftop
tierplayersdidnothavesolidrepresentation,theplayerwouldbecomeundervaluedallowing
themtogetsignedtoateamforacheaperprice.Sportsagentsdemandtheclientstheyrepresent
togeteverypennytheydeserve,alongwithasubstantialcontract.Agentsalsoguidetheirclients
intowhatdecisionstheclientmakeswiththeircareer.
Athletesoftenfacedifficultdecisionsintheircareer,agentshelpmakethosedecisions
considerablyeasierwithproperguidance(Whatdoesasportsagentdo?).Agentscontribute
talenttoleaguesbyrepresentingunderratedathletes.Inmanycases,athletesaren'thighly
recruitedbecausetheyattendsmallschoolsorcomefromlowpopulationstates.Manyofthese
unnoticedathletespossessthesameskillsifnotsuperiorskillsthanotherhighscoutedathletes.
Agentscanhelppublicizeorhypethesetypesofplayerssotheybecomenoticedbymajorsports
teams(Whatdoesasportsagentdo?).Increasingtheamountoftalentrisingintoprofessional
leagues,makingthesportmoreentertainingfortheaudience.Sportsagenciesacompetitivefield
andmostagentstravelalot,andworkirregularschedules(
ProsandConsofaSportsAgent
Career).Lotsoftimewillgetsacrificedifoneexpectstobecomeanestablishedhighpaid
agent.Devotedagentsdoworkoutsideoftheoffice,agentsmustattendtheirclientssporting
eventsaswellasseekingnewbusinessopportunitiesfortheirclients(Careerprofile:Sports
Agent).Networkingskillsremaincrucialforagents,biglistsofcontractswithsportsclubs,


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managers,andthemediasallimportantforthesuccessoftheirclients.Agentsoperateontheir
clientsschedulewhichmeanstheydon'tcontrolwhentheywork.Manytimestheytravelwith
theirclienttoeventsorendorsements.Asportsagentmuststronglycommittotheirclientifthey
wanttofindsuccess.Representingabigtimeinternationalsuperstarathleteprovesextremely
competitiveandhardtodo.Theagentscompetitivejobdemandstonsoftimecommitment
responsibilityandhardwork,butifanagentcansignthatbigtimeathletetheprofitsseem
endless.
Sportsagentsownalargepartofthesportsworldasearlyas1925whenquarterback
RedGrangesigneda3,000$contracttoplayfortheBears(Shropshire).Playersbegantorealize
theneedforprofessionalrepresentation.Sportsagentspossesenormousrolesinthesportsworld
today.Athletesinthe1920searnedthousanddollarcontracts,presentdayathleteseasilymake
milliondollarcontracts(Shropshire).Sportsagentshavethepowertochangethesituationofa
professionalsportsleague.Agentsinthepasthavedonejustthat,withexcitingand
unpredictablemoves.Thebestagentspossesthekeenabilitytonegotiatebiggestdealpossible
fortheirclient.DanLozanoagentoffuturehalloffamesluggerAlbertPujolsshockedthesports
worldwhenhehaggledagrandslamcontractforPujols.SaintLouistradedPujolstoLos
Angelesfora10yearcontractworthnorthof240milliondollars.ThemovemadebyLozano
solidifiedagreatcareerasanagentgivinghimtherespectofmanagersandcoaches(Staff
Writer).
Unfortunatelyadarkerhistoryofsportsagentsexistinthesportsworld.Timeaftertime
athletesatthecollegiatelevelgetbustedforacceptingpaymentsandluxuriesfromagents.Other
studentathleteshaveallegedlyreceivedinducementssuchasinterestfreeloans,automobiles,


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clothes,concerttickets,airlinetickets,insurancepolicies,anddateswithmodels(Davis).Agents
makethosedecisionstoinfluencetheathlete.Ifanathletesshoweredingiftsbyanagenthe's
morelikelytoallowthatagenttorepresenthim.Thismethodofbriberiesextremelyillegalin
collegesportsandremainsaharshlypunishableoffense.USCrunningbackReggieBush
admittedtoacceptinggiftsfromanagent,theNCAAconsideredsanctioningtheuniversityofall
oftheirtitlesandawards(Davis).Sportsagentsbeganusingthesemethodswhenathletesbegan
toearnmultimilliondollarcontracts.Everyagentdreamsofrepresentingayoungmegastar
athletethatwillsomedayearnahundredmilliondollarcontract.Thesetypeofagentsactgreedy
anddisrespectfultothesportstheyrepresent.Ifanagentonlycaresaboutprofits,theyshould
findadifferentjob.Ifanagentscaughtgivingitemsorgiftstoanathlete,notonlycouldthe
agentendurepunishmentbythesportsleagues,butalsothelaw.Itsimportantagentsset
examplestotheirclientsanddon'ttarnishthereputationofprofessionalandcollegiatesports.
Athletesclientshavesomuchpowertheycanchangethewholeoutlookonaleague.
Starplayersbecomehighlysoughtafterandifaplayerdoesnotfitwellwithanorganizationthe
clientcanseekabettercontractwithabetterteam(CFNC).Theagentcontrolsallofthesemoves
andcanallowplayerstohavemoresuccessindifferentsurroundings.Manyfansofsports
leaguesdonotrealizethattheagentsjustasimportantastheathlete.Withoutagentsplayerscan
staystuckwithateamthatsnotusingtheirplayerinthemostbeneficialway,holdingbacktheir
careersandteams.Sportsagentskeeptheleaguesfairandcompetitive,whenangoodagentgets
aclientabigdealitsetsastandardforotherathleteswhocompeteonthesameleveltoreceive
similarcontractspreventingplayerfromgettingunderpaidaswellasoverpaid.Asthedemand
forathletesincreases,sowillthedemandofsportsagents.Smartagentskeeptheprofessional


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sportsleaguesthatwelovesoentertaining.Withoutagentstheseeliteathleteswouldgetlocked
onateamforthemajorityoftheircareers.Agentsforceteamstobecomemoretacticaland
aggressiveintheircontractsinsuringtheysecuretheirclient.
Becomingasportsagentrequiresamultipleofpreparationsandmindsetstoputyourself
inthepositiontosucceed.Typicallysportsagentsmusthavestrongfinancialandbusiness
sense,aswellasastrongloveforsports.Mostagentsearnbachelor'sandlawdegreesandhave
experienceinsportsmanagement(CareerProfile:SportsAgent).Manyagentsremain
stronglyattachedtothesporttheyoncebecameinvolvedwith,keepingthemfamiliarwiththe
situationsoccurringingamesandinoffseason.Thoughitsnotrequiredtohavealawor
bachelorsdegree,manyagentsearnthembecausetheymustdraftandreviselegalcontracts
(CareerProfile:SportsAgent).Asportsagentsaquiteunorthodoxoccupationcomparedto
mostjobs.Thoughnospecifictrainingoreducationrequired,withoutmostofthementioned
credentialsfindingsuccessinthisfieldwouldseemdifficult.
Agentsarenotrequiredtohaveanycertaintypeofcollegeeducation,butmanyagents
claimalaworbachelorsdegreeprevailextremelybeneficial(Jerpi).Themoreworkexperience
anddegreesfutureagentsearn,themorelikelyanagentwillbecomehiredbyalargeknown
agencyorevensigningabiginternationalclient.Asof200736statesadoptedtheUniform
AthleteAgentsAct(UAAA),whichrequiressportsagentstobecomelicensedwiththestateand
regulatesconductbetweenagentsandathletes,especiallystudentathletes,accordingtothe
NationalCollegiateAthleticAssociation(SportsAgent:CareerDefinition,Occupational
Outlook,andEducationPrerequisites).Afewagentsinprofessionalsportshavenoneofthese
credentialsandjustrepresenttheathletebecausetheirclosefriends,orrelatedtotheathlete.A


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veryimportanttraitofagoodagentstandscharacter.Aclientneedstohavefulltrustthatthe
agenthastheirbestinterestatheart.Incidentsofagentsmanipulatingathletes,rangingfrom
investmentscamstotheftofmoneyoccurfartoooften(Davis).Agentsprimarilycontrolthe
successtheyhaveintheirfield.Ifanambiguousagentdeterminestoworkhardthroughouttheir
careerandconsistentlymaketherightbusinessdecisionsforclients,theywilleventuallyascend
throughtherankingsandlandahigherpayingclient.Howeverifanagentdecidestoslackoff
throughouttheircareertheywillcontinuetodwellatthebottomwiththelowlevelathletesand
receivesignificantlysmallersalarycomparedtothemoreambiguousagent.
Anothercrucialcomponentthatmayendupprovinghelpfultoafutureagentseems
enrollingincoursessuchassportsmanagement,finances,management,andpublicrelations
(SportsAgent:CareerDefinition,OccupationalOutlook,andEducationPrerequisites).
Helpfulcriteriatolandajobasasportsagentorinanagency,workingexperiencewithan
agency,contactswithinsports,businessknowledge,andlegalknowledge(Football/sports
agent).Thesecredentialsshowthatyouhavesomeofthemoreimportanttraitsthatleadto
successinthisfield.Manycollegesofferprogramsdesignedforaspiringagents(CollegesThat
SpecializeInSportsAgents).Thesetypesofprogramsprepareagents,andstrengthentheskills
theywillneedtoacquireasuccessfulcareer.Thesecollegescoursesgetdevotedtodeveloping
allaspectsofasportsagentscareer,includingnegotiations,marketing,andcustomerrelations
(CollegesThatSpecializeInSportsAgents).Communicationandnegotiationskillsbecome
importantforanagent.Agentshavetobidforthebestcontractfortheirclientssotheyreceive
maximumincome.


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Agentswillspendlotsoftimeinmeetingstryingtonegotiatethebestdealfortheir
clients,showingwhynetworkingandcommunicationbecomekeycomponentstothesuccessof
anagent.Workingasanagentmayfeelstressfulandextremelycompetitive.Everyagent
competestosignthenextLebronJamesorMikeTrout.Goodagentsseempersuasiveand
confident(BecomingaSportsAgent:JobDescription&SalaryInfo)
.
Aclientmayreceiveupto
30offersfromotherorganizations,itsuptotheagenttonegotiateandearntheirclientthebest
contract.

Anathletesagentmusthandlethemedia,themediacanbecomeabigdistractionoffthe
fieldtoanathletes,agentsmusthavethecommunicationskillstospeakforthemwhenathletes
gettobusy.Whenagentsgetathletesmassivecontracts,othereliteathletesseeking
representationwillbecomemoreattractedtothatagentoragency.Onceanagentestablishes
themselves,andearnsagoodreputationthenmoreclientswillpursuetoseekrepresentation.
Onceanagenthasalargebaseofclientstorepresentincomelevelswillimproveandgrowasthe
athletesprogress(Shropshire).Agentsmuststartofsmallandworktheirwayupinthesports
world.
Asanagentbecomesmoresuccessfulintheircareerandshowsfairnesswithclients,they
willbecomeviciouslysoughtafterbythehighdollarathletesofthesportsworld.Thebigclients
thatreceivehundredmilliondollarcontracts.Eventhoughsportsseemveryentertaining,
professionalsportsremainsoneofthebiggestbusinessintheworld.Professionalsportsleagues
suchastheNFLonlykeepgrowing,whichmakesworkinginthesportsfieldincrediblystable
andpredictable.TheSuperBowlgetswatchedbytensofmillionsofpeople,withthattypeof
audienceprofitsflowintotheleaguesanddistributetoeveryoneinvolved.Anyonewhohasa
loveforsportsshouldconsidergettinginvolved,becauseitsafunjob,theprofitsseemendless.


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Salariesforahighlevelsportsagentcanrangeanywherefromsixtosevenfigures.
Obviouslyincomeforagentsdependdirectlyonclientstheyrepresentandservicesprovidedto
them(HowMuchDoSportsAgentsMake).AsofJanuary2014,
PayScale.com
reportedthat
mostsportsagentsmadesalariesrangingfrom$48,500$515,096,withanaveragesalaryof
$62,288(HowMuchDoSportsAgentsMake).Astartingsalaryofaround48,000$appears
quiteaverage,butthepotentialforthejobpromiseshighersalaries.Agentsontheupsideof
theircareerscanmakesixfiguresworkingindependently.Anagentusuallyearnsabasesalary,
commision,andbonuses.Commissionsusuallydeterminedbythesalaryearnedbytheclient,or
clientsrepresented(HowMuchDoSportsAgentsMake).Asanagent,incomedepends
directlyontheclienttheyrepresent.Agentstypicallyearn3%5%ontheirteamcontractsand
10%25%onadvertisingendorsements,publicappearanceeventsorotherbusinessopportunities
(HowMuchDoSportsAgentsMake).Alloftheseservicestheagentsmustobtainfortheir
client.Themorebusinessendorsementslinedupfortheclientthehigheramountofmoneythe
agentwillreceive.
Agentsmakethemostcommisionoffofendorsementsandsponsorships,whichproduce
moreprofitthancontracts.Moremoneygetsmadewhenworkinginmoresaturatedbusiness
marketssuchasLosAngelesandNewYork.Workingwithathletesthatplayinsmallermarkets
willyieldlessincomeandlesscommisiontotheagent.Sportsagentsprimarilycontroltheir
owndestinyandhavethechoicetosetthemselvesupinthebestwaypossibletoland
internationalclients.Whenanagentrepresentsahighlypublicizedathletesuchasplayerslike
TigerWoods,LebronJamesorCamNewton,theeasieritbecomestosetupendorsementsand
sponsorships.Thisresultsinalargercommissiongoingintotheagentspocketandthatshow


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agentsbecomeextremelywealthy.Theagentsthatrepresentthesemilliondollarathletesearn
millionsthemselves(Viatkine).Thelargemilliondollarcontractsthatamazeeverytelevision
viewereverytimesomeguygetspaidahundredmilliontoswingabat,wouldn'tstaypossible
withoutthehighprofilesportsagentsrepresentingthem.Salariesamongthetopfiveagents
provejusthowlucrativetheprofessioncanget(Viatkine).Resultsincludemorecommission
goingintotheagentspocketandthatshowagentsbecomeextremelywealthy.Lotsofworkand
commitmentmustgetputintoearnrepresentationofthesehighlytoutedathletes.
Asportsagentcouldearnasmuchassixfiguresworkingindependentlywithvarious
responsibilities.Thejobssuitedforpeoplewhohaveastrongloveforsportsandthedesireto
remaininvolvedatthehighestlevel.Professionalsportsleaguesrapidlygainpopularityaswell
asprofits.Athletesbenefitfromtheseprofitsandgetpaidlargesalarieswhileplayingforateam.
Athletessignaprofessionalagenttorepresentandmanagetheircareers.Agentsassisttheir
clientswithfinancialandbusinessdecisions,aswellaspositioningthemintoprofitablebusiness
endorsements.Sportsagents,firstintroducedin1925whenthefirstplayerhiredanagentto
negotiateapersonalcontract(CFNC).Assportsbecameexceedinglypopularsodidthedemand
forthoseathletesneedingrepresentation.Decadeslateralmosteveryathletehasanagentto
handlealloftheiroffthefielddecisions.Intoday'ssportsworldprofessionalathletesgetpaidso
muchmoney,thatagentssalivateattheopportunitytorepresenttheseplayers.Urgencyand
competitivenessbroughtoutadarkgreedysideinagentscausingsomeofthemtocheat.Inthe
lasttenyearscountlessagentsgetbustedforbribingcollegeathleteswithmoneyandluxuries.
Theseillegalactsusuallyresultedinharshsanctionsagainstathletesandtheir
universities.Aspiringupcomingagentswillhavetodestroythenastyreputationsetbyformer


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sportsagents.Upcomingsportsagentsshouldhaveastrongunderstandingforsportsaswellas
strongbusinessandfinancialsense.Allthoughnoeducationstechnicallyrequiredtobecomea
sportsagent,BachelorandLawdegreesbecomeextremelybeneficial.Alongwitheducation
manycollegesoffersportsmanagementclasses,aswellasprogramsderivedtowardsasports
agentscareer.Manycurrentagentscommentthatinternshipsatsportsagenciesprovehelpful.
Mostrookieagentsstarttheircareerbyapplyingforajobatanagency.Agentstypicallymake
between$48,500$515,096,withamediansalaryof$62,288.Agentsontheupsideoftheir
careerscanmakesixfiguresworkingindependently.Anagentssalariesmostcommonlymade
onabasesalary,commision,andbonuses.Theprofitmarginforthejobsremarkablewithtons
ofpotential.Thejobattractspeoplewhopossesastrongloveforsports,andthedesiretoremain
involvedataprofessionallevel(CFNC).Sportsagentskeeptheleaguesfairandcompetitive.
Whenanagentsgetsaclientabigcontractitsetsastandardforotherathleteswhocompeteon
thesameleveltoreceiveasimilarcontract,whichpreventsplayersfromgettingunderpaidas
wellasoverpaid.Asprofessionalsportsbecomemorestronglyrecognizedinternationally,the
needforprofessionalrepresentationgreatlyincreases.


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