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Agents
Who is an agent?
An agent is any individual who, directly or indirectly:
(a) Represents or attempts to represent an individual for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation for financial gain; or
(b) Seeks to obtain any type of financial gain or benefit from securing a prospective student-athlete's enrollment at an educational institution or from a student-athlete's potential earnings as a professional athlete.
An agent may include, but is not limited to, a certified contract advisor, financial advisor, marketing representative, brand manager or anyone who is employed or associated with such persons. Whether or not someone calls themselves an agent, if they perform the functions of an agent under NCAA rules, they are considered an agent. Activities such as these would make someone an agent:
- Negotiating with a professional team
- Contacting a professional team on your behalf
- Arranging tryouts with professional teams
- Sitting in on your negotiations with a professional team
Advisors
Student-athletes may have an advisor to help evaluate their professional opportunities, but they must be careful that their advisor does not engage in any activities that would make them an agent under NCAA rules. As a good rule of thumb, an advisor can talk to you and your family, but if they are talking about you to any third parties (professional teams, media, scouts) they have probably crossed the line to being an agent.
UAB strongly discourages student-athletes and their parents from speaking on the telephone or having any in-person contact with an agent until the student-athlete has exhausted his or her eligibility. At no time may a student-athlete or a student-athlete's relative or friend receive any tangible benefit from an agent nor enter into any verbal or written agreement with an agent prior to the expiration of the student-athlete's eligibility.
- You are not eligible to compete in an intercollegiate sport if you have ever agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing your athletics ability in that sport. An agency contract that is not specifically limited in writing to a particular sport will be deemed applicable to all sports, rendering you ineligible to compete in any sport.
- You may not enter into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for future representation, even if the representation will not take place until after you have exhausted your eligibility in a sport.
- You may not accept transportation or other benefits (e.g., free food, clothing, trips) from an agent or any person who represents any individual in the marketing of athletics ability even if the agent does not represent individuals in your sport.
- While securing advice from a lawyer will not necessarily impact your eligibility, a lawyer may not represent you in negotiations of a sports contract, may not be present during discussions of a contract offer, and may not have any contact with a professional sports organization on your behalf.
Tryouts with Professional Teams
Student-athletes may participate in tryouts with professional teams without losing their eligibility, provided they follow certain rules:
- Student-athletes cannot miss class for a tryout with a professional team.
- Student-athletes may receive actual and necessary expenses in conjunction with one 48-hour tryout per professional team.
- A tryout may extend beyond 48 hours if the student-athlete pays any additional expenses (e.g., food and lodging), including return transportation.
- A tryout paid for by the student-athlete may last any length of time, provided the student-athlete does not miss class.
Professional Sports Counseling Panel
The President of UAB established a Professional Sports Counseling Panel (Panel) as a resource for its student athletes. This Panel is authorized by the NCAA and is intended to assist student-athletes to obtain and evaluate information about professional sports careers while also providing information about communication between student-athletes and agents.
The UAB Athletics Department recognizes that professional sports agents have specialized knowledge that may assist student-athletes who aspire to careers in professional sports. The Panel can help student- athletes make informed decisions about professional careers by providing information about professional sports contracting, selection of an agent or other representative, evaluation of professional potential and market value, purchase of disability insurance, career options, and other issues related to making the transition from collegiate to professional sports. The Panel also has the important objective of educating UAB student-athletes about NCAA and legal requirements that must be followed to protect the student-athlete's eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics. To schedule a meeting with the UAB Professional Sports Counseling Panel, submit a Request to Convene Professional Sports Counseling Panel form to the Compliance Office. Please read the Professional Sports Counseling Panel Policies and Procedures prior to submitting a request to convene. Links to both documents can be found at the bottom of this page.
NCAA Rules and the Law
Alabama law requires all persons who seek to act as athlete agents in Alabama register with the Secretary of State and must be issued a certificate of registration. This law also requires the student-athlete to notify the UAB Athletics Director within 72 hours or before the next scheduled athletics event, if the student-athlete has entered into a verbal or written contract with an agent or has accepted anything of value from an agent or an agent's runner.
In addition to the requirement of Alabama law, some important points student-athletes must be aware of as they explore professional sports opportunities include the following NCAA Rules, among others:
- A student-athlete who agrees, either verbally or in writing, to be represented by an athlete agent, either at the present time or at any time in the future, will lose his/her eligibility to play that intercollegiate sport. This rule applies even if the student-athlete intends for the agent representation to take place after he/she has completed intercollegiate eligibility.
- A student-athlete will lose intercollegiate eligibility if he/she, any family member or friend accepts transportation or other benefits from any person (runner/agent) who represents any individual in the marketing of his/her athletics skills.
Agent Advice
A student-athlete's eligibility to participate in an intercollegiate sport is something to be protected. Before you speak with an agent or an agent's representative (runner) about your future, or accept anything of value from them, contact the UAB Athletics Department, or a member of the Professional Sports Counseling Panel for assistance. The Panel members are here to help answer any questions you may have about sports contacts, the law, NCAA rules and related matters of interest to student-athletes. If you are approached by an agent or his/her runner, tell him or her to contact the UAB Athletics Department or a Panel member. Remember that improper contacts with an agent or an agent's runner, or the receipt of anything of value, can result in the dismissal from your team, loss of intercollegiate athletics eligibility, and the withdrawal of an athletics grant-in-aid (scholarship) and any related benefits.
Men's Basketball
In the sport of men's basketball only, student-athletes can be represented by an agent after any basketball season IF they request an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee. Men's basketball student-athletes who wish to enter the NBA draft must request an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee. Also, agreements between agents and high school or college student-athletes must be: 1) in writing, 2) terminated when the student-athlete enrolls in or returns to college, and 3) disclosed to the NCAA (for prospective student-athletes) or the school (for student-athletes). Agents must be certified by an NCAA program with outlined consequences to work with a high school or college student-athlete. Family members of a prospective student-athlete or student-athlete, or actors on behalf of a professional sports team don't require certification.
Overview of NCAA Bylaws Governing Athlete Agents
NCAA Agent Brochure
Agent Dos and Don'ts
Agent Questions
Financial Advisor Questions
Alabama Directory of Registered Agents
Professional Sports Counseling Panel Policies and Procedures
Request to Convene Professional Sports Counseling Panel
Agent Education Letter
Agents and Advisors in Men's Basketball
