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Updating “The National Association of Sports Agents & Athlete Representatives” Movement

Just prior to the start of the Memorial Day Weekend, NFLPA Contract Advisor and Founder of The National Association of Sports Agents & Athlete Representatives (NASAAR) sent out an update addressing some frequently asked questions since his first announcement regarding his plans for the new trade association.

[Link: NASAAR FAQ]

 There are a total of 10 answers to frequently asked questions that you may find by clicking the link, above.  Quoted below are the answers that I found to be of most interest.

3. What are specific goals NASAAR hopes to accomplish?
  • Serve as a liaison to the NCAA, professional leagues, state regulators, schools, etc. on agent regulation matters and related topics.
  • Track legislation affecting the sports agents and amateur athletes, at the state and federal government levels as well as the NCAA.
  • Monitor legislative activity, participate in legislative discussions and voice support or opposition on pending legislation.
  • Monitor legal and regulatory enforcement actions, legal proceedings, and other regulatory matters affecting the industry.
  • Develop and manage industry committees to address key issues, foster collaboration within the industry, and address common issues and concerns.
  • Develop a repository of information on key issues affecting sports agents including statistics, industry trend, enforcement actions, best practices and other key metrics.
  • Serve as an official resource for the public on athlete agent related- issues and establish the foundation for a national agent registry.
  • Stage an annual conference to educate our community on recent trends and changes in the law, ethics issues, new products and services for agencies and their clients, and other in formative topics.
  • Utilize group purchasing power to gain discounts on products and services to provide greater direct value to members
  • Foster collaboration in the industry through networking and other interactive opportunities to create synergies between agents

5. Who can become a member of NASAAR?

NASAAR membership is open to those who are involved in servicing the needs of professional athletes. Therefore, it is not limited to just “sports agents,” but is intended to include marketers, financial advisors, doctors, trainers, etc. to provide for networking opportunities, education, and other opportunities. NASAAR will have several membership classes to accommodate these various constituencies.
I am most interested in hearing the thoughts of this site’s readers regarding the plan to open up membership to such a broad class of individuals.  Will that serve to benefit the organization or will it inhibit the future trade association’s ability to accomplish many of the goals listed?

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.

One reply on “Updating “The National Association of Sports Agents & Athlete Representatives” Movement”

I’ve never heard of the guy, have seen no contributions, writings, etc., by him to improve any aspect of the system, his email contained typos, it may or may not be a step in the right direction or just a money making publicity effort.  It remains to be seen.  But I expect, unfortunately, it’s all about the “membership classes” and more money making off of the sports industry.

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