| he last 15-20 years, professional athlete salaries | | | | an athlete to represent. In addition, the agent |
| have skyrocketed. Now more than ever, it is vital | | | | must maintain their certified status by paying |
| for professional and aspiring athletes to be | | | | renewal fees and attending continuing education |
| represented by sports agents with the highest | | | | seminars. If you are going to entrust an agent |
| level of integrity who will always have their best | | | | with making career and life decisions on your |
| interest at heart. | | | | behalf, you owe it to yourself to make sure they |
| Today, sports agents manage much more than | | | | are certified. After you speak with a few certified |
| an athlete's career, they manage virtually all | | | | sports agents, it is up to you to determine which |
| aspects of their clients' life. Not only do agents | | | | agent is the best fit for you. Determine whose |
| negotiate lucrative athlete contracts, but they also | | | | personality you like best, who seems the most |
| market their clients for product endorsements, | | | | trustworthy, which offers the services you need, |
| promote their positive image by involving them in | | | | and which has the best career plan for you to |
| community activities and charitable events. Agents | | | | follow. These are decisions only you can make |
| even handle financial investment opportunities and | | | | after meeting with agents face to face. |
| help with retirement planning services. | | | | So how do you find a certified sports agent? |
| So with all of this at stake, how does an athlete | | | | That is the hard part. Very few certified sports |
| choose the right agent to represent them. Well, | | | | agents publish their contact information online or |
| there is one question to ask your prospective | | | | anywhere in print. In addition, the sports leagues |
| sports agent before discussing anything else. Are | | | | will not divulge this information for any reason. |
| you a certified sports agent Virtually anyone | | | | There is only one quick and easy way to find |
| walking the street can say they are a professional | | | | certified sports agents and that is the Sports |
| sports agent and they have clients. The one sure | | | | Agent Directory.This online directory is specialized |
| way to separate the want-to-be sports agents | | | | in listing only certified sports agents. The directory |
| from the true established sports agents is if they | | | | lists over 3000 sports agents from 10 different |
| are certified. | | | | sports leagues and includes the agent's name, |
| The four major sports leagues being the MLB, | | | | address, phone/fax, email and website. For a |
| NBA, NFL and NHL require that sports agents be | | | | minimal fee of $59.95, you get full and immediate |
| certified by their respective players' association | | | | access to the directory. It is very well organized, |
| before they can represent an athlete from their | | | | easy to use, and is up to date. I have personally |
| league. This measure helps to insure a minimum | | | | used the website and I highly recommend it to |
| standard for qualifications of the sports agent. To | | | | anyone interested in contacting sports agents for |
| become certified, a sports agent must complete | | | | any reason. |
| an application, pay various required fees, and have | | | | |