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The Things That You Need To Know About Agents. Session Agenda. Why Do I Need To Know This? What Do I Need to Know? What Should I Do Next? Who Can I Talk To? Disability Insurance. Why Do I Need To Know This?. “It takes a village” to keep a student-athlete eligible.
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Session Agenda • Why Do I Need To Know This? • What Do I Need to Know? • What Should I Do Next? • Who Can I Talk To? • Disability Insurance
Why Do I Need To Know This? “It takes a village” to keep a student-athlete eligible. Agents are everywhere – particularly here! Agent issues put the whole team in jeopardy.
What Do I Need To Know? NCAA Rules NFL Players’ Association Rules Texas State Law The Role of The UT Compliance Office
NCAA Rules Regarding Agents • A student-athlete is ineligible if: • He has a verbal or written agreement to be represented by an agent OR • He has an agreement to be represented by an agent in the future OR • He or his relatives or friends have accepted any benefits from an agent
Who is an Agent? • The NCAA defines and agent as anyone who markets an individual’s athletics ability or reputation. • The critical question is what the person does, not what he calls himself. • Whether they call themselves an agent or an advisor, if they market an individual’s athletics ability or reputation, they are an agent in the eyes of the NCAA.
Agents vs. Advisors • Having someone who truly acts as an advisor, and not an agent, is permissible. • What Agents Do: • Interact with any third parties (professional teams, scouts, agents, etc.) on behalf of the student-athlete or his family • What Advisors Do: • Provide information based on their experience and knowledge to the student-athlete and his family.
Did you know . . . . ? • Approximately two thirds of the agent and advisor cases the NCAA has investigated involve football and men’s basketball student-athletes.
NFLPA Rules • Draft Eligible = 3 NFL regular seasons have passed since your graduation from high school • Agent Certification Program • Financial Advisors Program • No contact by agents until draft eligible
Texas Athlete Agent Act • Registration Requirement • Overseen by Secretary of State • Contact Restrictions • Contract Requirements • Athlete Agent Interview Periods • Penalties
The Compliance Department’s Role • The goal of the Compliance Department is: • To preserve the eligibility of our student-athletes while they are at the University of Texas; and • To help student-athletes and their families get the information they need to make an educated decision about the agent who best serves their needs, once a student-athlete decides to pursue a professional athletics career.
What Should I Do Now? • BE AWARE of Agents • DO NOT form an agreement with an agent verbally or in writing. • DO NOT accept anything of value from an agent (i.e. lunch, a drink, a ride, a phone, tickets, cash, etc). • Student-athletes or their families should let the Compliance Office know if they are going to have contact an agent or if they have had contact with an agent.
Who Can I Talk To If I Have Questions? Compliance Office – 512-471-7285 or compliance@athletics.utexas.edu NFLPA (Athelia Doggette) - 800-372-2000; www.nflpa.org Texas Secretary of State’s Office - (512) 463-5705; https://direct.sos.state.tx.us/ AthleteAgents/AASearch.asp
Did you know . . . ? • Violations of NCAA rules regarding agents and advisors are among the most likely to result in permanent ineligibility for a student-athlete.
Disability Insurance • What Is It? • Protection against career ending injuries • Who Can Get It? • Any one who is likely to have a professional athletics career • How Do We Get It? • Private insurers vs. NCAA insurance program • How Much Will It Cost? • Premiums and loan programs