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Social Networking Sports Agents

A Lot More Than Negotiating Contracts

What is a sports agent? Originally he (I say he because it took a while for women to enter the field) was in charge of making sure that his athlete clients did not get screwed when signing deals with professional clubs. An agent’s main task was to read over the contract with a fine comb and then serve as the representative of the athlete in negotiations with a team owner. Eventually, agents realized that there was a lot to be made in representing athletes for their marketing and endorsement deals. Now, an agent who also serves in a marketing capacity typically takes 15-25% on any deal that he/she is able to secure for a client. Chores include: reading over contracts, serving as a representative in discussions, and possibly aiding marketing efforts. Seems like enough to take up an entire day, especially when coupled with recruiting new clients. Don’t make me start laughing…

Honestly, a sports agent’s work is really never complete. There are not enough hours in a single day to accomplish everything that a sports agent could potentially do for his clients. In today’s business, a sports agent has new duties, which include: find endorsements, organize charity events and set up meet-and-greets with potential love interests. Book travel arrangements, arrange financial services and put a spin on controversy. Besides finding the endorsements, the rest is done free of charge…talk about pro bono work! As an agent, you now must also wear some other hats, those being: life coach, business advisor and wish granter. If you are not willing to add these jobs to the traditional role of being an agent, then it is time to find the door. You are replaceable, bottom line. There are too many hungry, greedy, starving agents out there looking to poach your clients the second you slip. Do everything you can to meet what the profession currently demands of you and then think outside of the box to do even more.

For instance, Jason Peck brings up the idea of adding transparency to your business. Advantages include your potential clients knowing more about you at the outset, creation of trust, and others valuing your honesty. All three elements sound good to me. Peck gives a shout out to Dynasty Athlete Representation as being the only sports agency that he knows of that is in the business of blogging. And I will agree with Peck that most of my success thus far with Dynasty stems from the fact that I decided to start this blog and make my agency transparent. I have nothing to hide, and I believe that there is a lot of equity in this blog other than the money obtained from the sponsors located on the right sidebar of this page. This is my way of thinking outside of the box to bring a new element to the business of sports representation. It allows me to stay abreast of current sports agent issues, build connections with others in the industry, promote my clients, and much more. How will you shift the balance of power in this profession?

By the way, go ahead and friend Dynasty on MySpace.

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 “A Lot More Than Negotiating Contracts”

Like the MySpace page. Can you hit me up sometime and tell me who designed it for you? Might be interested in utilizing his/her services in the future.

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