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Athlete Representatives Association Explains Membership Fee Structure

On May 7, 2012, I wrote about a new organization called the National Association of Sports Agents & Athlete Representatives (NASAAR), which will be geared toward representing the interests of sports agents and others engaged in the representation of professional athletes.  The founder of NASAAR, Andrew Bondarowicz, followed up his announcement of NASAAR with an update addressing some frequently asked questions about the forthcoming Association.  Then he sent out a new email addressing some concerns that have arisen since the publishing of his FAQ.  Now, Bondarowicz has disclosed how the Association is going to stay afloat: membership fees.

The tentative membership fee structure is as follows:

  • $100 for contract advisors/agents certified by the major players associations
  • $100 for non-agents who are members of other sports-related professional associations such as the Sports Lawyers Association, Sports Financial Advisors Association or National Sports Marketing Network.
  • $200 for non-certified and who are not also members of another recognized industry trade association.
  • $500 for a corporate membership for a business entity (includes up to 10 individual memberships primarily employed by the entity)
  • $50 for full-time undergraduate and graduate students not employed by an agency (one semester internships are permissible)

Bondarowicz also notes that a special “Charter Member status” will be designated to those registering prior to August 31, 2012 to “recognize those who helped get NASAAR off to a strong start.”  The formal launch of the Association is still planned to take place on July 1, 2012.

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.