Athlete Management Sports Agent FAQ

question  How do you become a sports agent?

Becoming a sports agent involves learning and understanding the role of a sports agent, learning how to recruit players, what goes into representing players, marketing players to teams, and negotiating contracts. Gaining this knowledge can come from many different avenues, but Sports Management Worldwide’s Athlete Management Course is the most popular and cost effective.

question  How much do sports agents get paid?

Typically, sports agents can take anywhere from 1-10% of a professional contract of their client. It depends on the league that the player is in and what that Players’ Union regulates agents can take. For example, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has a range of 1-3% on agent commissions. In 2021, the league minimum for a rookie is $660,000 and if an agent takes 3% of that salary, it would equal $19,800. In the NBA, agents can take up to 4% of a player’s contract. The NBA league minimum for a rookie is $925,258, with a 4% commission equally $37,010.

question  Who is the richest sports agent?

The agent with the largest amount of current contract value is Scott Boras who has negotiated $3.2 billion in contracts for his clients. His commissions are estimated to be $161.1 million. Of the top 5 largest sports agents, 3 are in Soccer (Football), 1 in Basketball (Jeff Schwartz), and 1 in Baseball (Scott Boras).

question  What are the requirements to be a sports agent?

There are a couple of different ways you can become a sports agent. Most people will take the Athlete Management Course from Sports Management Worldwide to learn and understand what it takes to be an agent. That course will allow you to work as a non-certified agent with the SMWW Agency. If you want to become a certified agent, you’ll need to look at each players association and their requirements to become an agent with them.

question  Is a law degree necessary to become a sports agent?

More important than having a complete understanding of the law is the ability for sports agents to make and attend to personal relationships. Because agents work so closely with athletes in so many aspects of their lives, they are often chosen and referred to others based on these personal connections. An open, friendly, genuine person with integrity, character, and the ability to follow through has the basic attributes to be a successful sports agent.

In addition, a good sports agent should understand the rules, regulations, and culture of the sport/s they intend to work in.

 question How is the course taught online?

One of the favorite parts of the course for students is the weekly live video chats. This is done from your computer via the internet. You get a live video chat via Zoom every week with your course mentors, Dr. Lashbrook and your fellow classmates. No parking problems, no hassle finding the classroom, and no transportation issues!

In addition to the live video chats, the coursework is set up through an interactive classroom designed specifically for SMWW training courses. When you register for the class, our staff will set you up with a password to participate in this interactive classroom. The course work includes interactive discussion boards, weekly quizzes, and course projects which are all great ways to interact with other students and the instructors to get feedback. During the course, guest speakers are invited to join you for your online video chats and do informal interviews with students. Guest speakers will include some of the most respected, well-known agents and executives in the sports industry.

In addition, the SMWW Staff is available to assist you with any questions you might have. As an SMWW student, Dr. Lashbrook is more than happy to take your calls and loves helping agents and students.

question  What if I need "one on one" assistance?

Here at Sports Management Worldwide we have a staff to service all your needs. We pride ourselves on great customer service... or shall we say, great "student service"! We have staff in Portland, Oregon, and London, England who can personally answer your questions. Call us and we will be more than happy to assist you. Keep in mind, the end goal is for you to represent a client... and your success is our success!

question  How much money can I make as a sports agent? Will I see a return on my $1,450 investment?

In the Sports Agent business, the saying goes "you get paid when your athlete gets paid." The amount agents make varies with the athletes they sign. Successful sports agents can make over a million dollars per year.
Click here to see the average earning potential of a sports agent.

Sports Management Worldwide provides the academic foundation to help those interested in a career as a sports agent and then provides a full-service agency for you to actively recruit and sign clients. We believe that with some hard work and networking, everyone who takes our course has the opportunity to see the return on their investment.

question  Can I take one of the Athlete Management classes and begin to represent athletes immediately afterward?

Yes! However, each sports league (and some states) have a registration process that is necessary to complete before negotiating contracts for athletes. These processes typically include testing and fees. Upon successful completion of the SMWW Athlete Management Course, graduates are encouraged to become Sports Agent Advisors within the SMWW Agency as we are registered or in the registration process in every state. This is a full-service agency and receives thousands of athlete inquiries for representation which we pass along to our graduates. SMWW Sports Agent Advisors represent athletes from all over the world in a variety of sports. The SMWW staff includes Sports Directors who assist the Sports Agent Advisors in each individual sport. They carry the certification in each sport so that as an SMWW Agent Advisor you can sign clients in the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, EPL, and NHL. (Visit the agency website at www.SMWWAgency.com)

question  Am I guaranteed to get offered a position as an agent advisor with Sports Management Worldwide?

SMWW cannot guarantee that you will become an agent with our company. However, upon successful completion of the Athlete Management courses, most students are offered a position with our agency.

question  How do I find athletes to represent? Will SMWW provide athletes for me?

SMWW teaches students how to recruit and works closely with its agents on signing players. In addition, SMWW provides Agent Advisors with leads of athletes seeking representation. Athletes are looking for qualified agents with a certified agency and apply here every day. Numerous athlete registrations are filled out daily and go to our Agent Advisors immediately.

During the recruiting process, our certified agents are happy to assist you with your clients when necessary. This teamwork approach will greatly increase your likelihood of signing the client and securing sponsorships. In addition, when you have an elite athlete interested in representation, an SMWW certified agent will fly out to meet with the player and their family.

question  Can I take one of the Athlete Management courses and not work for SMWW?

Yes. We have had students take the course and go on to work for other agencies. We have had many students take the course and start their own agencies. The SMWW Agency has many benefits for the Agent Advisor, but at any time, an Agent Advisor can take their clients with them to another agency or start their own agency. We feel you will be a stronger agent with SMWW, but that always is your decision.

question  A lot of websites have a lot of inexpensive "courses" or "kits" I can buy to BECOME A SPORTS AGENT, why is yours superior?

As with any purchase, you need to be careful of spending money on the internet. Some of these websites are just "selling" information that you can get free thru the NFLPA, NHLPA, NBPA, MLBPA, or via a little free research from search engines and sports websites. In addition, you want to make sure the product you are buying delivers what it professes. At the completion of these mail order courses can you legally represent NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, and NHL clients without paying certification fees? Is the company you are considering registered in every state to recruit athletes?
Some of these websites are reselling information they bought on the internet. Some of these websites are being "taught" by individuals who have never gone to college, never been a registered agent, and have never signed a player or negotiated a contract. Ask them which athletes they currently represent? Some of these websites might have purchased certifications but have never represented a major league client. When it comes to negotiating signing bonuses, sponsorships, and endorsing products you want to learn from those who have done these things and have quality contacts. To become a successful Sports Agent you want to learn from people who are currently in the trenches recruiting clients and have professional experience. To recruit top athletes you need professional credentials, qualifications, certifications, connections, and experience. We are the only Agency school who has clients in all the major leagues for a reason.

question  When I become an Agent Advisor how much help will I get recruiting athletes?

As an SMWW Agent Advisor, you will have a full-service agency walking you through each step of the process. SMWW has a full-time staff that is available to you. Upon acceptance to the Agency, you will be able to order company brochures, marketing materials, and company business cards. You will receive genuine referrals of athletes looking for representation. (These individuals are NOT lists that we buy and resell. They are young athletes currently looking for agents.)

SMWW will help by speaking to your athletes, their parents, and whomever else is involved in the decision-making process. Our Sports Directors and certified agents will assist you via conference calls or in person depending upon the athlete's needs. You will receive as much help as you think you need. We want you to be independent but provide you with all the guidance and assistance you need to successfully recruit athletes. As an Agent Advisor, you receive email updates from our staff updating you on workouts, tryouts, combines, legal issues and ongoing education to update your credentials.

question  Do I really get to talk to certified NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, FIFA agents weekly?

Throughout the eight-week courses, Certified Agents lead live video chats via the internet. This live video chat is offered every week for just their specific course students and may include guest agents. This is an hour-long question and answer video discussion with SMWW Agents, Sports Directors, athletes, and fellow students.

If you miss a chat they are archived, and you can listen when it is convenient for you.

question  Do you have more questions?

Call the office and ask! 1-877-SMWW-Now in the US or Canada. In London at +44(0) 871 288 4799. Everywhere else at +1-503-445-7105