Sports Agent
Sports Agent
Sports Agent represents the interest of athletes, particularly in contract negotiations, and handles sponsorships, public relations, and financial planning.
To be a successful agent you need to:
- have a high level of knowledge about the sports
- be able to communicate with athletes and team executives
- be able to do the necessary research and show why the deal is beneficial for both the team and your client
- be persistent, the work on contract negotiations often begins a year before a new deal is reached
You also need to have knowledge in the following areas:
- Sports Management – sports management can give you the foundation, which you need in order to become an expert in all areas of sports.
- Law - A law degree can give you legal experience for general contract and approval negotiations.
- Business- A business degree will help you develop the skills you need to work with the business side of sports
Keep in mind that just education in law, business, or sports management is not enough, you have to have advanced knowledge of the league rules and the specifics of the sport. Agents should also be mindful of the various licensing and certification procedures in the sports agent industry.
The success of an agent depends on the success of his client in the field, so it is extremely important for an agent to be able to recognize talented people. Finding and recruiting athletes as potential clients is an integral part of a sports agent's job.
If you want to make your first step as a sports agent, start looking for an internship or job shadowing program at a sports agency. This will give you the experience you need for an entry-level position. You will likely work in a team that operates in a supportive role of a much more experienced agent or your other entry-level role could entail scouting and recruiting athletes in order to gather a list of potential new clients.
Sports agencies are a highly competitive industry, so you will need to work hard to stand out from the crowd.