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What it Takes to Become a Sports Agent

Guest contribution by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of sports management college. She invites your feedback at [email protected].

With the NFL Draft and the NFL post-season upon us, sports fans are all buzzing in speculation about who will be the next big thing for the 2009 season.  Sports agents will be out in full force promoting and negotiating for their clients.  What does it take to become a sports agent?  Take a look and see what you can learn…

Education

Education is the cornerstone of any successful career, and being a sports agent is no exception.  Laying the foundation for your career is important, and this can be done by earning a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields, and then going on to law school to ensure that you have the proper legal skill set to perform your duties as an agent.

Intricate Knowledge of the Way Sports Recruiting Works

Many fans can tell you about all the ins and outs regarding sports recruiting.  Like anything else, it is a multifaceted venture that requires politicking, know-how, and a willingness to go out there and earn the respect of prospective clients and scouts as well.  Be prepared to learn and pay your dues.

Internship

Like many professional careers, interning for an agency can help you learn how the profession works and may even help you to get your foot in the door at a later date.  While some agencies only need interns during the summer, there are many that need help year-round.  Expect to do everything and then some while you learn how to do one of the toughest and most coveted jobs in entertainment.

Network

You have to know some people, which is why it is so important to do the other steps first.  Naturally, when you study for a specific career, chances are you will have a rudimentary knowledge of the business and a few contacts.  After some time, however, a network should be firmly established or your business and clientele will certainly suffer as a result.

Love of the Game

You need to have not only a love of the game of the athletes you promote as a sports agent, but the game of promotion and negotiation as well.  A good agent knows how to play the game and always keeps his or her clients’ best interests in mind whenever doing business.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.

10 replies on “What it Takes to Become a Sports Agent”

I’m in HS right now and I know for a fact I want to become a sports agent. Is there anything I can do right now that will help me achieve that career in the future?

Darren –

I enjoy following Dynasty through this website. With college baseball season only 35 days or so away, I was wondering if you have gotten any verbal commitments from players that you will be their advisor during the 2009 draft.

thanks and keep up the good work.
Bobby

I have a young man interested in becoming a sport Agent. He is looking for an internship this and I hope you can help him. I am a track and field coach in South Florida and I train many young man and women for speed. This young man asked can I assist him in getting an internship. My e-mail address is [email protected]

I am a financial planner with a very reputable firm. I am wondering how do I start to get athletes as my clients

I currently have a Bachelor’s Degree and am finishing up my Master’s in Legal Studies with a concentration in Intellectual Property. Do you believe this would be enough to get me in the door? The Master’s program I am in was taught at a Arizona State University Law School and for the most part the program is similar in regards to the J.D. program. Only difference is mine was 18 months compared to a J.D. that is 36. I was going to go onto law school but did poor on the LSAT and didn’t want to wait a year to go back. So what do you think? Is my educational background enough to get me started?

There is no such thing as a “right” amount of education to get you through the door. Education is important, but you will need relationships with athletes, companies, etc. just to get a start.

By Post Author

i am also a jr in high school wat colleges do i need to try to go to and wat degrees do i need to get

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