Sports Agencies and Management Key Terms

Terms you will find as you research sports agencies

By Ann Starr

Sports agencies now represent athletes in almost every sport. The range of services an agent provides runs the gamut from helping athletes decipher terms of contracts, all the way to managing personal finances and everything in between.

To ensure a certain level of ethics and professionalism, there are companies that provide education and training for a certification in sports management. You can take online courses from some colleges and universities if you want to pursue this field while working in another. There are also professional associations and directories, so you can gather even more information.

Sports agencies and agents

Sports agencies offer a wide variety of services to their clients, and they are often tailor made for the athletes' needs. By taking courses, career aspirants can jump start their career with online courses and internships. Sports agencies often hire agents once they have completed courses and become certified.
Try: Become A Sports Agent describes the various roles and responsibilities of a sports agent.

Sports agent certification

Sports agent certification is a process that has been developed by some sports management agencies. They want to ensure that agents who procure and negotiate employment and endorsement contracts for athletes have the appropriate training and education to do so effectively.
Try: Sports Management Worldwide outlines what you need to know to become certified.

Contract negotiation

Contract negotiation is a major part of what sports management agencies offer their clients. It consists of discussing and arranging the terms of a contract between an athlete and team management. Since a contract is a legal agreement, it is important that the athlete be represented by an experienced professional agent.
Try: Reynolds Sports Management has a good overview of the process.

Athlete endorsements

Athletes often supplement their player salaries with endorsement deals from sponsors. Sports agencies can be instrumental in assisting athletes with getting these endorsement deals because they have contacts in the industry and knowledge of the negotiation process.
Try: AthletePromotions.com explains “the deal,” as well as the various endorsement mediums.

Sabermetrics

Sabermetrics is the analysis of baseball statistics. The Society for American Baseball Research, SABR, keeps track of these statistics. Sports management agencies utilize sabermetrics in their analysis of a baseball athlete's earning potential during contract negotiation.
Try: The SABR is where you will find a lot more information on this topic.

Sport scouts

Sport scouts are professionally trained talent evaluators whose main responsibility is to observe athletes while they play and determine whether their skills and talents are sufficient for professional sports. Many scouts are retired players or former coaches. Sports agencies network with sport scouts to identify potential clients.
Try: Scout.com is a good resource where you can learn a lot more about this field, from high school all the way to professional sports. Scouts usually specialize in either working with prospects, younger players who need more development, or polished professionals who are immediately ready to play.