Travis Ball      

April 9, 2012

AP Literature

4th Period

Sports Agent

            Every child encounters sports at early ages in their lives whether it is by playing,

watching, or hearing about them. Sports were a colossal part of my childhood as I grew up. I

started to think about future careers I would like to go in to. Sport Agency was introduced to me

and I fell in love with the business. My research into the field of Sports Agency led me to write

on the topic of contracts and endorsements. I chose these topics because I believe they are the

two most important pieces in the business of Sports Agents. The endorsements are huge when

you are making a pitch towards a player that you would like to sign to a contract. These two

factors provide the groundwork for a product with an actual signed contract and a pitch to a

player that is unsigned.

            The first step in creating my idea for a tangible product was to find a project facilitator

that meets the Sports Agent criteria and has the knowledge to guide me in the right direction. I

wanted my project facilitator to have been relatively successful in the business, yet still willing to

meet with a high school student. My cousin heard me talking about my project and said she knew

a Sports Agent in Atlanta, named Todd France, whom I would be able to meet with. Todd France

is the owner and CEO of France All-Pro Athlete Management in Atlanta. Mr. France has

operated F.A.A.M. for nearly a decade. He is one of the most renowned agents for the NFL. In

the past few years he has signed dozens of draftees including numerous first round draft picks.

Mr. France has many years of experience in contract negotiations and making pitches towards

players.

            These years of experience for Mr. France furthered my knowledge on how to create the

tangible product. The first step in the process was for me to find the top prospects for the

upcoming draft in order to scout and pursue them. The next step I took was to read up and learn

about what is important to the player; I did research on such things as a family atmosphere,

endorsements, or salary. With the information I gathered I began to create a pitch for Robert

Griffin III. The next step for me was to introduce the player to the pitch and talk about the

player’s interests, how you can better them, and what opportunities you create for them. I then

had to present it to the client and most likely a few family members. This is a key part to the

process because a lot of the time the client will like you, but a parent or guardian will not and it

is important to sway them. Once I have completed the pitch towards a player, my next step is to

convince the client to sign with your organization all that is left to do is sign the NFLPA

contract. I had to do negotiations on such things as compensation, time, and different terms that

fall in the contract. Finally, once I agree to terms on compensation and both parties sign I will be

on my way to a lifelong partnership.

Every career and product has its own set of unique complications and hitches. Location

can affect any type of meeting especially when an office is in a major city. Mr. France’s office is

in downtown Atlanta so the gas and traffic were a problem for the commute. Another problem I

encountered was setting a meeting time with Mr. France. In the recent months, during the NFL

off-season, Mr. France is extremely busy with NFL free agency. Certain weeks he was not able

to meet with me either due to him being out of town or having prior obligations. The final

problem with creating my product was the fact that there are no examples of pitches towards

players. Corporations like to keep their pitch ideas to themselves so other companies do not use

their tactics to steal a player. The problems caused grief at first, but in the end finding the

solutions helped me better myself for future endeavors.

The process of completing my senior project has furthered my knowledge on what work

habits that I need to keep and even some that have to be left behind if I want to be successful.

Procrastination has hindered me in the making of my product and showed me how serious it can

be to procrastinate. I also learned that my habit about finishing whatever I start is key in this

business. You cannot rest for a second when you are pursuing a major athlete. I learned that you

will be in contact with clients at all times. You must have the skills and organization to balance

thousands of calls, emails, and text messages a day. All of the things I have learned in this

process have furthered my liking for the career. I believe becoming a Sports Agent is the best

possible career choice for me. I will pursue this career by majoring in Sports Management at

Georgia Southern University. The senior project has introduced me with F.A.A.M. opening the

door for a possible internship in the future. It has been a great experience teaching me the skills I

need and opening to doors to many opportunities. I would like to thank the judges for taking time

out of their schedule and being a part of my senior project. Are there any questions?