What Athletes Look for in a Sports Agent

Accessibility and Certification

• One of the most important things you want to look for in a potential sports agent is whether you can get in contact with him when needed. If you're not a high-profile athlete who's likely to be a high draft pick in your chosen sport, you want to make sure that a sports agent will still make the time to take your calls or return your calls within a short period of time. You can do a little homework on this subject by talking to other athletes currently represented by the sport agents you've targeted, to see the degree of accessibility they enjoy with their representative. In addition, you should make sure any prospective agent is certified by the professional league of the sport that you play. Each major sport has its own certification requirements, so you should call the league office of your sport to obtain confirmation.

Reputable Client List

• A reputable sports agent will often sell you on his services by presenting a client list for you to look over. This can be beneficial in two ways: it shows you his commitment to making you one of his clients, and gives you the opportunity to see the variety and level of athletes that he represents. A client list also shows you how many similar athletes you might be competing with for sponsorship and commercial opportunities. If prospective agents have too many clients that look like you and play the same sport, it may be an indication that you might be overlooked once you become a client. Conversely, it could also signal how well that agent would handle you, especially if he's gotten great deals for clients on his list.

Integrity

• With each passing day, it seems as if sports agents continue to become less trustworthy because of unethical behavior, such as paying college athletes, illegal recruitment while athletes are still in school and embezzling clients' money. In looking for a sports agent, you need to make sure you find someone who conducts business honestly and doesn't take any shortcuts to make a few extra dollars. Sports agents are required by law in most states to make certain disclosures regarding their business to the secretary of state's office before they can practice as agents. You can check with that office in your state to see if any lawsuits or other improprieties have been filed against any prospective agent that is offering to represent you. You should also check with the attorney general's office in your state to see if they've taken any action against the prospective agent. Integrity is one of the most important qualities of a sports agent. It frees you from worrying about whether your agent is representing your best interests, and lets you concentrate on playing the game you know best.

Access To Sponsorship

• Another important thing to look for in a sports agent is his access to sponsorship opportunities. Professional athletic careers are short; according to "Bloomberg Businessweek," the average career of an National Football League player is three-and-a-half years. As a result, you need to make as much money as possible in the event that you suffer a career-threatening injury or are released from your team. You should ask prospective agents if they have contact with sponsors both inside and outside of your sport to maximize your earning potential. According to the Chicago Sports and Entertainment Partners agency, an endemic sponsor is specifically connected to a sport, for example, a golf ball company would be an endemic sponsor if you were a golfer because they're directly connected to your sport. A non-endemic sponsor exists outside the narrow confines of a sport; Gatorade, for example, is not connected to any specific sport. Finding an agent with contacts in both types of sponsorship opportunities will benefit you in the long run.