The Things That You Need To Know About Agents
Session Agenda
Why Do I Need To Know This? What Do I Need to Know? What Should I Do Next? Who Can I Talk To? Disability Insurance
Why Do I Need To Know This?
“It takes a village” to keep a student-athlete eligible.
Agents are everywhere – particularly here! Agent issues put the whole team in
jeopardy.
What Do I Need To Know?
NCAA Rules NFL Players’ Association Rules Texas State Law The Role of The UT Compliance Office
NCAA Rules Regarding Agents
A student-athlete is ineligible if:He has a verbal or written agreement to be
represented by an agent OR
He has an agreement to be represented by an agent in the future OR
He or his relatives or friends have accepted any benefits from an agent
Who is an Agent? The NCAA defines and agent as anyone who
markets an individual’s athletics ability or reputation. The critical question is what the person does, not
what he calls himself.
Whether they call themselves an agent or an advisor, if they market an individual’s athletics ability or reputation, they are an agent in the eyes of the NCAA.
Agents vs. Advisors
Having someone who truly acts as an advisor, and not an agent, is permissible.
What Agents Do: Interact with any third parties (professional teams,
scouts, agents, etc.) on behalf of the student-athlete or his family
What Advisors Do: Provide information based on their experience and
knowledge to the student-athlete and his family.
Did you know . . . . ?
Approximately two thirds of the agent and advisor cases the NCAA has investigated involve football and men’s basketball student-athletes.
NFLPA Rules Draft Eligible = 3 NFL regular
seasons have passed since your graduation from high school
Agent Certification ProgramFinancial Advisors Program
No contact by agents until draft eligible
Texas Athlete Agent Act
Registration Requirement Overseen by Secretary of State Contact Restrictions Contract Requirements Athlete Agent Interview Periods Penalties
The Compliance Department’s Role
The goal of the Compliance Department is: To preserve the eligibility of our student-
athletes while they are at the University of Texas; and
To help student-athletes and their families get the information they need to make an educated decision about the agent who best serves their needs, once a student-athlete decides to pursue a professional athletics career.
What Should I Do Now? BE AWARE of Agents DO NOT form an agreement with an agent
verbally or in writing. DO NOT accept anything of value from an agent
(i.e. lunch, a drink, a ride, a phone, tickets, cash, etc).
Student-athletes or their families should let the Compliance Office know if they are going to have contact an agent or if they have had contact with an agent.
Who Can I Talk To If I Have Questions? Compliance Office – 512-471-7285 or
[email protected] NFLPA (Athelia Doggette) - 800-372-
2000; www.nflpa.org Texas Secretary of State’s Office - (512)
463-5705; https://direct.sos.state.tx.us/ AthleteAgents/AASearch.asp
Did you know . . . ?
Violations of NCAA rules regarding agents and advisors are among the most likely to result in permanent ineligibility for a student-athlete.
Disability Insurance What Is It?
Protection against career ending injuries Who Can Get It?
Any one who is likely to have a professional athletics career
How Do We Get It?Private insurers vs. NCAA insurance program
How Much Will It Cost?Premiums and loan programs