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Sports Agents

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 kellykilpatrick24@gmail.com.

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 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.

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 groeback@gmail.com

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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