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

compliance@athletics.utexas.edu 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