What makes a great sports agent?

What makes a great sports agent?

As a professional athlete, having a great sports agent is crucial for success. Sports agents act as a bridge between athletes and clubs or brands, allowing athletes to focus solely on their performance. They negotiate contracts, protect their clients’ reputation, and secure opportunities for their clients. But what make a great sports agent? Let’s dive in.

There are a few agent qualities that athletes should be looking for. Let’s take a look at five essential traits of a great sports agent.

1. Honesty and trust

Above all, you need an honest agent. And along with honesty, comes trust. Athletes sometimes do not realize that there are people out there trying to take advantage of them, including (bad) agents. Many athletes make the mistake of relying on money to build trust. They choose instant gratification (money) over the right person to represent them. Some agents will offer athletes huge amounts of money for a potential client to sign a contract with them. Some will even ask to be refunded back if the collaboration does not work out. As ridiculously as it sounds it does happen. That’s why the NCAA has rules and guidelines governing agent and student-athletes relationships.

It’s important that the agent is honest and behaves as such from the very beginning. This will build a trust-based relationship. Also, the agent should be honest about your realistic options as an athlete while staying respectful. Only when agents are direct and honest, athletes will be able to make the best decisions for their lives.

Agents who make big promises and don’t deliver, will not last long. They should exude confidence, but it’s essential that they set realistic expectations.

So don’t worry about which agent can give you money now. Sign with the agent who you can trust and that always has your best interest in mind. Honesty and trust are two characteristics of a great agent according to one of the greatest agents in the industry, Leigh Steinberg.

2. Business and interpersonal skills

Sports agents need excellent planning and management skills to stay focused on the various deals for each of their clients. Agents should use their knowledge of finance while keeping their client’s future in mind, making both short-term and long-term deals.

Proper market analysis and excellent negotiation skills are required to get the best deals. Effective communication skills and social intelligence are critical to maintain healthy, positive, and close relationships. Clients, clubs, scouts, brands, and all other related-parties involved are all a part of the relationships that must be maintained. All of them are most likely to work with an agent who communicates clearly and respectfully. A socially intelligent agent will be more successful, because it can help him to close more contracts. Agents need to appear presentable, be approachable, and feel comfortable talking to the public and media.

3. Action and accessibility

Your agent should be accessible and available anytime, and clear communication is a must. Athletes are busy and should be focusing on their performance. They do not want to have to call their agents to remind them of their existence. You need an agent that you know that will be working behind-the-scenes for you.

How much do you, and does your success matter to your agent? Your agent should not treat you as just a number. They should be proud to represent you and work hard for you.

Choosing the right sports agency can make all the difference in your career. While bigger agencies may seem like the obvious choice, they often don’t devote enough time to each client. Instead, picking a smaller agency could be a wiser decision, as they can offer more personal attention and dedicated resources. A great agent initiates action on behalf of their clients. They actively seek out opportunities and work to secure the best deals. Don’t settle for an agency that treats you like just another number. Choose an agent who will work tirelessly to improve your career prospects and ensure your success.

4. Reputation

When selecting a sports agent, it’s essential to consider their reputation within the industry. A good reputation can open doors to significant opportunities with clubs and brands. On the other hand, a negative reputation can limit your potential opportunities. You may not want someone with a poor reputation making calls on your behalf.

To ensure success in the industry, your agent should be respected by general managers and CEOs. This doesn’t mean that they need to be the most likable person in the world. Instead, they should strive to earn respect through their actions and behavior, both for themselves and their clients. By doing so, they can establish themselves as credible and trustworthy agents within the industry.

5. Passion for sports

In order to succeed, passion is a must. Great agents are extremely passionate about all things related to sports. They always stay up-to-date about the latest news and trends in the industry. That’s one of the key difference between a sports agent and a lawyer. Sports agent are experts on sports contracts and marketing strategies while lawyers are experts on a specific area of law. Additionally, Agents also have a passion for business and negotiations, and for their clients. To read more about these differences read our blog, “Sports Agents, Lawyers, or Self-Representation: the pros and cons.“

To excel as a sports agent, it takes a passion for sports and business acumen. The opportunity to improve athletes’ lives while working in a beloved industry is a significant reward.

Success as a sports agent requires hard work, but the payoff is significant. The top agents go above and beyond. From inspiring their clients to become role models through charitable efforts and supporting foundations. Click to learn more about What to look for in a sports agent? or Contact Us today if you are ready to get serious about your athletic career.