How to Become a Sports Agent? Get Key Steps
How to become a sports agent? A sports agent is the foremost representative of amateur and professional athletes. Being a sports agent is an exciting career! Your career can be successful if this is one of your passions! Typical tasks and responsibilities include raising media awareness for your athlete, negotiating income, as well as providing career advice.
Another responsibility is to negotiate contracts between an athlete and various sports entities, as well as potential sponsors. Agents must be flexible in their schedules to succeed in this rewarding career. Having superior people skills is another major attribute for this type of career. The steps necessary for a successful career as a sports agent are worth learning.
Recommended Sports Management Programs
- B.S. in Sports Management – Post University
- Online Master of Science in Sport Management – Liberty University
Sports agents are usually affiliated with or part of a larger sports entity. However, they are also capable of working independently. Typically, their role is to negotiate for their athletes to generate supplemental incomes through public appearances, marketing, advertising, and endorsements. Sports agents are also responsible for receiving all fees and salaries earned.
A sports agent is usually mingling to promote the athletes they represent when they are not handling contracts. Sports agents don’t necessarily need a college degree, but the competitive nature of the field may dictate that sports managers obtain a graduate or law degree. Here are some beneficial and strategic steps to becoming a successful sports agent:
Earn A Sports Management Bachelor’s Degree
Studying sports management at the undergraduate level is a good idea. Exercise science courses are combined with business courses in this type of course. The program may also require students to take classes in sports marketing, accounting and finance, kinesiology, and industry law. Many sports management degree programs also require some internship work. Sports management degrees may be offered by exercise science departments of larger universities as well as specialized business school institutions.
License and Registrations
Some states require sports agents to have a license and be fully registered. There are no formal or regulatory governing boards, so requirements can vary from state to state. A potential agent usually only needs to agree to a background check along with a registration application. Additionally, they will need to pay any registration and licensing fees associated with these courses.
You must understand that to be an athlete’s representative agent, you will need to successfully complete a registration process. You will have to pass exams and pay a fee. Each state will have its own registration process. Different states require certification to represent athletes in certain sports. For the duration of your business relationship with the athlete, you will need to maintain that certification.
You must have a thorough understanding of the sports you choose to represent if you want to be a successful agent. It would be prudent of you to keep abreast of the specific rules and protocols of any sport you represent.
Earn a Master’s or Professional degree
A sports agent may also want to consider enrolling in law school. Law school will equip you with the technical knowledge to read the legalese of a contract and to negotiate a contract on behalf of the athlete you represent. Obtaining a law degree is not a requirement for this field, but it would give an edge in negotiations. Agents may want to consider master’s degrees that offer actual training in sports management, such as an MBA. Students with this degree will gain detailed knowledge of the sports industry. A program such as this can teach you how to establish a brand for a player and how to set salary caps. You may also be able to complete an internship.
Due to the increasing popularity of sports, university courses in athlete management are becoming more common. These courses provide aspiring agents with the knowledge, skills, strategic plans, and requirements to represent professional and amateur athletes. These courses are suitable for individuals who are interested in building a career as a sports agent, marketing clients and negotiating on their behalf.
In order to become a sports agent or manager, you should improve your communication skills. One of the most significant aspects of this job is effectively communicating your athlete’s talents and values. Don’t forget that you are communicating this information to various teams, companies, and charities. Consider taking a public speaking or speech course. Next, experience is vital to your success. Thus, interning at a sports management organization or gaining sales experience would be very beneficial.
If you do not have legal experience, you should hire an attorney to handle the legal issues associated with being a sports agent. You should not expect a certain salary. If your clients become successful athletes, you will receive a higher salary as a result.
The major responsibility of a sports agent is to network for their athlete. An agent will work with other people in the business. They will keep up-to-date with current trends. If the athlete stays current, he or she will be able to make better decisions. Agents will also regularly stay in touch with managers, team owners, team coaches, and any other public relations personnel.
Professional sports agents work in exciting industries such as the National Football League (NFL), American Football League (AFL), National Hockey League (NHL), National Basket Association (NBA), Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Olympics sports, soccer, extreme sports, tennis, bowling, golf, motorsports, and mixed martial arts to name a few.
Now that you have the knowledge to begin your exciting career as a sports agent, run with it and succeed. Once you have completed your formal education, you should seek out your first job. Find a position as a sports agent with a reputable agency. Find a potential employer in your area and network with successful agents. This is a rewarding career that can be yours!