Questions to ask a sports agent before you sign.
A short checklist for athletes and families. A good agent welcomes every one of these.
Before you sign with a sports agent, ask who will actually manage you day to day, exactly how they charge, what they will do for you before and during your first season, and how they handle contracts and conflicts. A good agent welcomes the questions and gives straight answers.
Who will manage me?
- Will I deal with you directly, or be handed to junior staff?
- Who else works on my account, and can I meet them first?
- How often will we be in contact, and how?
How do you charge?
- What is the fee, and when does it start?
- What exactly does the fee cover?
- Is anything charged in my first season?
What will you actually do?
- What will you do for me before and during my first season?
- How do you handle contracts, sponsorships and brand?
- How do you think about my career and life beyond sport?
Track record and trust
- What is your experience with athletes at my level?
- Who reviews the agreement I am about to sign?
- How do you handle a conflict of interest?
Two things matter most. Never sign under pressure, and make sure someone with the right training reads the agreement before you commit. At G2G, that read comes built in: Jamo is an accredited agent and a qualified business lawyer, so the fine print is part of the service, not an afterthought.
Common questions.
Should a lawyer review an agent agreement?
It is wise to have someone with the right training read any agreement before you sign, including fee terms and any long-term rights. At G2G, Jamo is a qualified business lawyer as well as an accredited agent, so the agreement gets a careful read as part of the service.
Is a sports agent’s fee negotiable?
Often yes. In the AFL the AFLPA does not cap fees, so the rate and the services it covers are negotiated between the player and the agent. Treat a quoted rate as a starting point.
What is the most important thing before signing?
Do not sign under pressure, and be clear on who manages you, how they charge and what they will do. If anything is vague, ask until it is not.
Related from G2G.
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