How to Be a Football Sports Agent

Football sports agents are highly coveted positions. The glamour and financial opportunities of the job do not make the work any less difficult and competitive. Becoming a football sports agent, however, takes much more than just a desire to succeed. Every would-be football sports agent should know the pertinent skills and information. Follow these steps to become a successful one.

Suggestions

1. First determine whether you have the personality to enter into the sports agent career field. Assess whether you are outgoing, charismatic and a self starter, since these specific traits are needed to be a successful agent.
2. Ensure that you know the game of football well. Study football well; or better yet, play football to understand the game on an intimate level.
3.  Get a bachelors degree to develop the skills necessary for sports agent work. Consider a degree in law, marketing, business administration and communication. Some schools, such as New York University, offer sports management programs.
4. Stay abreast of investment changes in the football industry as well as industry pay standards and legal concerns, since these areas will be the main focus of your job. Take at least one or two courses on contract negotiation, conflict resolution and personal finance to develop the business skills necessary for sports agent work.
5. Search for jobs within a sports agency for internship positions. Check various online resources and network at your school to help secure some initial opportunities. Look for law firms that handle sports figures or entertainment firms that specialize in sports management to land a position to get your feet wet.

Tips

• A law degree is best for preparation in becoming a football sports agent.
• The market is competitive so the more education and credentials you obtain the better for job placement. Consider a masters degree.
• Networking is crucial. Develop superior networking and social skills to help with landing a good job as a sports agent.

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How to Hire a Sports Agent

Sports agents are often seen as having a glamorous job, but in fact their work has little to do with the love of the game and everything to do with business. Agents not only negotiate athlete's salary contracts, but secure commercial endorsements, organize public relations efforts and some also provide legal services. Before hiring a sports agent, you will need to do careful research and take time before making a final decision.

Suggestions

1. Ensure you want to give up the rest of your college athletic eligibility. Once you hire a sports agent, you will no longer qualify to participate in collegiate sports.
2. Visit the players' association website of the sports league you plan to play in and make a list of prospective agents. This will ensure that you only consider those who are registered to act as an agent in your league.
3. Talk with professional and college athletes, scouts and coaches you know to get information about the agents on your list, including their reputation in the league.
4. Contact the agents you're interested in working with and tell them about yourself if they don't already recognize your name. Ask to set up a meeting to talking about the possibility of them representing you.
5. Ask the agents about their track record, educational credentials, experience as an agent, philosophy regarding contract negotiation, what clients they currently represent in your league and whether they offer additional services, such as financial planning and legal representation, at your meetings.
6. Sign a contract with the agent you feel most comfortable with and are confident in. Get a copy of your contract immediately after it is signed, and do not sign anything unless you completely understand the terms of the agreement. Most leagues have a standard contract that agents are required to use. If you do not understand part of the contract, contact your league's players' association for clarification.

Tip

• Well-known, celebrity sports agents often only work with star athletes--don't be offended if they decline the chance to be your agent.

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How to Contact a Sports Agent

Any athlete interested in extending their career will at some point consider hiring a sports agent. Agents can help manage an athletes marketing, assist with team tryouts, making the necessary contacts and providing representation. You can contact a sports agent by looking through a directory of certified sports agents.

Suggestions

1. Decide what is most important about your need for an agent. If you are thinking about contacting a sports agent on your own behalf, or to speak with an agent about one of their existing clients, you should begin your search by the sport that particular agent specializes in.
2. Use a directory to search for an agent. If you know whom you are looking for, begin your search on a directory website (see Resources) such as PSG or SMWW.
3. Search for an agent by sport, region or specialty. Select an agent, send them an email or call their number, and request more details on their exact services and how they might best fit your needs. Talk to multiple agents in order to distinguish which one might be best suited.

Tip

• Always be polite when speaking to a potential agent. Get as much information as possible before deciding on the best representation.

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How to Choose a Sports Agent

If you are a gifted athlete looking to turn your sports talent into a career, your first step is to find a reputable sports agent. An agent can negotiate contracts, find tryouts, and figure out how to market you to coaches and recruiters. When choosing a sports agent, you need to find someone reputable who has the experience to take your career to the next level. With the right training, the right agent and enough talent, your dream of becoming a professional athlete can come true.

Suggestions

1. Find a directory of agents for your particular sport. There are several directories that will give you names and contact information of experienced and accredited sports agents. You can search by sport, country and city in order to find an agent who will work for you. Some agents will focus only on the major sports of basketball, football and baseball, while others will represent athletes in all fields.
2. Make a list of agents you like so you can easily contact them later.
3. Make a list of agents who seem promising. Do a web search for the agents you think have potential. This is an effective way to discover any glaring shortcomings by reading comments or complaints that people have made about the agents in the past.
4. Contact the agents who seem promising by phone or email. Be prepared to talk to them about your stats, such as height, weight, and on-field experience. The first time you contact these agents you might only get through to the secretary. Be patient and you should eventually get through to the agent.
5. Ask questions to learn about what an agent can offer you.
6. Don't be afraid to ask questions. After all, the agent will be working to further your career, so you want to make sure they know what they are doing. Ask them how much they charge, who are some of their current and former clients, and what kind of education and experience they have.
7. Take notes on what each agent says. This will allow you to compare and contrast the agents you talk to, as well as remember details they tell you so you can review the material later.
8. Double check the information the agents give you. Be sure to check that they really did graduate from the college they said they graduated from and have all of the accreditation that they claim to have. If they have lied about any of these things, take them off your list.

Tips

• If you are a high school athlete, do not sign with an agent if you plan on playing in college. You will lose your eligibility to play if you have an agent.
• Be polite when contacting agents. It may take several tries before you actually talk to the agent. Do not call every day, and be sure to thank both the agent and the agent's secretary for taking your call or answering your email.

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How to Find a Sports Agent

Any athlete in need of a sports agent must be doing something right. However, there are many ways to go wrong when it comes to hiring that agent. A lot of people claim to be agents, and even some of the legitimate ones have been nabbed for corrupt or unfair policies. The athlete needs to be willing to shop around and compare the work histories of agents before signing anything.

Suggestions

1. Get references from other athletes in your profession. Some agents specialize in certain sports. The agent that gets his name in the sports programs the most may not be the best for your sport. College resources can also help identify legitimate agents.
2. Check a neutral source like the Sports Agent Directory. It has a long list of active agents and their clients.
3. Talk to as many different agents as you can. Ask each agent about his past and present clients, what bonuses or perks he was able to get those clients that other agents could not, and what he expects from you.
4. Check into the background of any agent. If they are truly what they claim they are, the agent will not have a problem with this responsible act. You also need to consider what the agent's reputation is among the business people in your sport. For example, some agents have developed a reputation for holding their clients out of training camps until a contract is signed to his satisfaction. In some cases, the agent and the owner have a history of bad negotiations, and neither one is willing to give in to the other. This could make life uncomfortable for an athlete who just wants to play.

Tip

• High school or college athletes with college eligibility left are not allowed to sign with an agent. In some sports, notably baseball, a high school athlete who wants the option of attending college but knows he will be drafted by a pro league, can retain an agent as an "adviser." The player can't sign with that agent or accept any money from him without losing college eligibility.

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