Categories
Recruiting

Yo Momma!

Ask any Sports Agent, and they will probably confirm the fact that in a majority of cases, it is vital to win over an athlete’s parents in order to sign a representation agreement contract. It is understandable how this simple fact can be overlooked by many agents while they reach out solely to the athlete and forget about his/her parental units.

Focus must be especially paid to an athlete’s mother. The Oxford Press looked into how influential a football player’s mother can be in the recruiting process by Universities across America [Mom’s the word for recruits]. The story ran right after National Signing Day, which placed many top recruits in a variety of schools (UF had the #1 recruiting class…Go Gators!).

But mom’s influence does not end after her son joins a college team. If mama ain’t happy with a school, her kid won’t play for that team. In the same respect, if mama ain’t happy with you, chances are that you will not be representing her son.

My favorite quote from the story:

“I think of her [my mom] as a truthful sports agent,” said Cameron, 17. “She helped me with things I’m not able to look at and she understands what’s out there, the games coaches try to play.”

Moral of the story: focus on winning over the athlete, but make sure that you impress his/her mother as well.

-Darren Heitner

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.