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How to become a sports agent? A sports agent negotiates contracts and endorsement deals on behalf of athletes so as to maximize value for their clients. Furthermore, agents work to promote the athletes they represent by keeping them in the public eye and raising their value in the eyes of potential employers.
It is possible for sports agents to work directly for the athletes they represent or in an agency with other agents. Consequently, there are no formal education requirements for sports agents, although degrees in business, law, or sports management may be highly beneficial.
To become a sports agent, you must, however, follow the following steps:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
- Get licensed and registered in your state
- Take advanced coursework or pursue professional development
Education in the areas of law, marketing, and management are necessary to become an agent for athletes, though no specific degree is required. Even if it is not obtained through a conventional degree program. It can be advantageous if you have experience in the sport you intend to represent, but it is not a requirement.
Another key attribute of a sports agent is charisma – which can help win over sponsors as well as clients. As a reputation-based industry, they should be personable and professional with everyone they meet. Excellent communication skills are also a must, as contract negotiations have little room for prevarication. Agents have as little as one day to win over a potential client, so a talent for persuasiveness and the ability to argue effectively can go a long way. Sports agents travel across the country to find new talent, as they have to visit schools and sports teams. In addition, they may accompany clients to games and promotional events.
Sports Agent Degree
In order to become a sports agent, you should major in one of the following:
- Law
- Business
- Sports management
- Finance
Because agents are involved in contract negotiations heavily, an understanding of contract law is considered essential, so at least some level of legal education is recommended. Consider sports management degrees that focus more on business than on facilities, equipment, or exercise. Getting your foot in the door may be easier with a bachelor’s degree, but most agents operate with a master’s degree. They often take this as part of their undergraduate education to cover as much of these three areas as possible.
Sports management programs often include internships with agencies or other sports-related organizations, which provide valuable real-world experience and networking opportunities. A Master of Business Administration degree can also be extremely valuable. Because it provides business acumen at the negotiating table as well as leadership knowledge for forging ahead on behalf of your client.
Sports Agent Internships and Licensure
Internships with agencies are a common way to become a sports agent, whether you are in a degree program or not. An internship allows students to learn about the field while assisting an experienced agent. Furthermore, they give the agency a chance to see what you have to offer.
Several states require sports agents to obtain a license or register with the state in order to operate. Licensure and registration requirements can vary substantially between states but often consist of a background check and a simple application, with associated fees. Upon receiving any necessary licenses, you can begin working with clients already at the agency or seek out your own.
Career as a Sports Agent
Sports agents tend to build up a stable of talent that they represent for the duration of their careers. Agents will need to recruit new clients to replace those who retire or leave athletics. In addition, they will need to try to use their reputation to attract established professionals into switching agencies.
Some agents may want to go out on their own after years of working for an agency. At this point, the CEO of an agency might be in charge of a few of the major clients, but may focus on running the business. Agents seeking advancement can also move into related fields, such as scouting for teams.
Sports Agent Salary and Industry Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a sports agent (and other business managers of artists, performers, and athletes) was $73,740 in May 2019.
New York, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas are the most common places where agents work. Any area with a large number of universities that have athletic programs is likely to have sports agents working there. According to the BLS, sports agent jobs will grow by 12% between 2019-2029, which is much faster than average.
FAQ’s
Q: What qualifications do you need to be a sports agent?
A: A successful Sports Agent has a sports management degree and many of them go on to having a law degree as well since many of the people go on having a degree in this field.
Q: Can anyone be a sports agent?
A: There is no degree requirement to be a sports agent and since there isn’t one, the competition touches the sky. Many of the candidates try standing out on the basis of a master’s degree and some other degrees to increase their chances.
Q: Is it difficult to become a sports agent?
A: Many of the sports agent have at least a Bachelor’s degree and if you want to pursue the career you will need a lot of patience and dedication and have faith in your interest because this is the career of rejection and a lot of footwork all around.
Q: How many years does it take to become a sports agent?
A: You might end up spending about 5-8 years of education and experience to get your first job.
A: What are the cons of being a sports agent?
A: Agents can get quite busy with the teams and they might get many clients at a time which would end up sabotaging every team that this agent is looking after. There might be other cons too, you’d know that after asking a professional only.