Who is an agent?
An agent is any individual who, directly or indirectly:
(a) Represents or attempts to represent an individual for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation for financial gain; or
(b) Seeks to obtain any type of financial gain or benefit from securing a prospective student-athlete's enrollment at an educational institution or from a student-athlete's potential earnings as a professional athlete.
An agent may include, but is not limited to, a certified contract advisor, financial advisor, marketing representative, brand manager or anyone who is employed or associated with such persons. Whether or not someone calls themselves an agent, if they perform the functions of an agent under NCAA rules, they are considered an agent. Activities such as these would make someone an agent:
- Negotiating with a professional team
- Contacting a professional team on your behalf
- Arranging tryouts with professional teams
- Sitting in on your negotiations with a professional team
Advisors
Student-athletes may have an advisor to help evaluate their professional opportunities, but they must be careful that their advisor does not engage in any activities that would make them an agent under NCAA rules. As a good rule of thumb, an advisor can talk to you and your family, but if they are talking about you to any third parties (professional teams, media, scouts) they have probably crossed the line to being an agent.
MSU strongly discourages student-athletes and their parents from speaking on the telephone or having any in-person contact with an agent until the student-athlete has exhausted his or her eligibility. At no time may a student-athlete or a student-athlete's relative or friend receive any tangible benefit from an agent nor enter into any verbal or written agreement with an agent prior to the expiration of the student-athlete's eligibility.
- You are not eligible to compete in an intercollegiate sport if you have ever agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing your athletics ability in that sport. An agency contract that is not specifically limited in writing to a particular sport will be deemed applicable to all sports, rendering you ineligible to compete in any sport.
- You may not enter into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for future representation, even if the representation will not take place until after you have exhausted your eligibility in a sport.
- You may not accept transportation or other benefits (e.g., free food, clothing, trips) from an agent or any person who represents any individual in the marketing of athletics ability even if the agent does not represent individuals in your sport.
- While securing advice from a lawyer will not necessarily impact your eligibility, a lawyer may not represent you in negotiations of a sports contract, may not be present during discussions of a contract offer, and may not have any contact with a professional sports organization on your behalf.
Tryouts with Professional Teams
Student-athletes may participate in tryouts with professional teams without losing their eligibility, provided they follow certain rules:
- Student-athletes cannot miss class for a tryout with a professional team.
- Student-athletes may receive actual and necessary expenses in conjunction with one 48-hour tryout per professional team.
- A tryout may extend beyond 48 hours if the student-athlete pays any additional expenses (e.g., food and lodging), including return transportation.
- A tryout paid for by the student-athlete may last any length of time, provided the student-athlete does not miss class.
NCAA Rules and the Law
Missouri law requires all persons who seek to act as athlete agents in Missouri register with the Secretary of State and must be issued a certificate of registration. This law also requires the student-athlete to notify the MSU Athletics Director within 72 hours or before the next scheduled athletics event, if the student-athlete has entered into a verbal or written contract with an agent or has accepted anything of value from an agent or an agent's runner.
In addition to the requirement of Missouri law, some important points student-athletes must be aware of as they explore professional sports opportunities include the following NCAA Rules, among others:
- A student-athlete who agrees, either verbally or in writing, to be represented by an athlete agent, either at the present time or at any time in the future, will lose his/her eligibility to play that intercollegiate sport. This rule applies even if the student-athlete intends for the agent representation to take place after he/she has completed intercollegiate eligibility.
- A student-athlete will lose intercollegiate eligibility if he/she, any family member or friend accepts transportation or other benefits from any person (runner/agent) who represents any individual in the marketing of his/her athletics skills.
Agent Advice
A student-athlete's eligibility to participate in an intercollegiate sport is something to be protected. Before you speak with an agent or an agent's representative (runner) about your future, or accept anything of value from them, contact the MSU Athletics Department for assistance. The Athletics Department is here to help answer any questions you may have about sports contacts, the law, NCAA rules and related matters of interest to student-athletes. If you are approached by an agent or his/her runner, tell him or her to contact the MSU Athletics Department.  Remember that improper contacts with an agent or an agent's runner, or the receipt of anything of value, can result in the dismissal from your team, loss of intercollegiate athletics eligibility, and the withdrawal of an athletics grant-in-aid (scholarship) and any related benefits.
Overview of NCAA Bylaws Governing Athlete AgentsÂ
NCAA Agent Brochure
Agent Do's and Dont'sÂ
Agent QuestionsÂ
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