University of Louisville Compliance - Q&A on Agents
April 09, 2001 | General
Questions and Answers Related to Agents
| Question #1: | I have been contacted by agents who wished to represent me both before and after the draft. Can I reach an agreement with an agent to represent me without jeopardizing my further eligibility in collegiate athletics? |
| Answer: | No. If you or your parents reach a verbal or written agreement with an agent, this will jeopardize your eligibility at an NCAA institution. |
| Question #2: | Is it true that it is permissible for a student-athlete to have an advisor, but not an agent? If so, what is the difference between an advisor and an agent? | Answer: | It is permissible for a student-athlete to have an advisor (but not an agent) without jeopardizing further eligibility at an NCAA institution. Under NCAA regulations, a student-athlete and his or her parents are permitted to receive advice from an attorney or other individual concerning a proposed professional sports contract, provided the advisor does not represent the student-athlete directly in negotiations for a contract. In this regard, it is permissible for an advisor to discuss the merits of a proposed contract with a student-athlete and give suggestions about the type of offer the student-athlete should consider. However, an advisor may not be used as a link between the student-athlete and the professional sports team or organization. If the advisor makes direct contact with the professional team, the advisor shall be considered an agent and the student-athlete will have jeopardized future eligibility. For example, an advisor may not be present during discussions of a contract offer with a professional team or have any direct contact (i.e., by persons, telephone or mail) with a professional sports team on the student-athlete's behalf. Finally, the student-athlete must compensate the advisor at his or her normal rate for services rendered. |
| Question #3: | May I receive any benefits (e.g., transportation or meals) from an agent or advisor without jeopardizing my eligibility? |
| Answer: | No. A student-athlete will be ineligible if he or she accepts any transportation or other benefits from any person who wishes to represent him or her in the marketing of athletics ability. This rule does not prohibit a student-athlete from having a meal with someone who wishes to represent him or her, provided each pays for the actual cost of their meal and arranges for separate transportation. |
| Question #4: | Am I permitted to negotiate directly with a professional sports team? |
| Answer: | Yes. NCAA legislation was changed in 1992 to allow a student-athlete and his parents or legal guardians to negotiate directly with a professional team. A student-athlete is also permitted to have the institutions professional sports counseling panel negotiate on his or her behalf. |
| Question #5: | May I reach any kind of agreement for a contract with a professional team and still retain eligibility? |
| Answer: | No. If a student-athlete reaches a written or verbal agreement for any portion of the terms of a professional contract, he or she will have jeopardized future eligibility. |
| Question #6: | What happens if a professional team offers to fly my parents and me to its city to watch a ballgame and meet with local media? Is a representative of the team permitted to take my parents and me to dinner or entertain us in any way? |
| Answer: | In order to retain eligibility, a student-athlete is not permitted to receive any kind or entertainment expenses from the professional team. This includes a representative of a professional team purchasing a meal or paying expenses for a visit to the city of the team for any reason. |
| Question #7: | Am I allowed to participate in a tryout with a professional team? |
| Answer: | Yes, but only during the summer (beginning at the end of the academic year). Under these circumstances, a professional team is not permitted to provide any expenses for the tryout. Thus if a student-athlete decides to travel to a particular place to participate in a tryout during the summer, all expenses associated with the tryout must be provided by the student-athlete. Accordingly, this means that a student-athlete will jeopardize eligibility if he or she participates in any professional league tryout camps that take place during the academic year. |
SB: Highlights vs. No. 13 Stanford
Saturday, February 28
BSB: Tague Davis Postgame vs. CMU (2/27/26)
Saturday, February 28
BSB: Griffin Crain Postgame vs. CMU (2/27/26)
Saturday, February 28
BSB: Dan McDonnell Postgame vs. CMU (2/27/26)
Saturday, February 28
