Parents and student athletes: If you’re hearing from sports agents, you’ll want to read this

If you’re hoping your athletic talents will lead you to endorsements during college or eventually to pro sports, signing with a sports agent might be an exciting first step — but it’s also serious business. That’s why the FTC is seeking information from universities about sports agents’ compliance with the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act. SPARTA requires agents to provide important information to student athletes and schools about agency contracts — and prohibits them from making false or misleading statements to student athletes or offering illegal gifts to induce student athletes to sign agency contracts. This week, the FTC sent letters to twenty universities to ask about the sports agents recruiting student athletes on their campuses. Are sports agents giving students written agency contracts that spell out the terms? Are they notifying the students’ schools within 72 hours of signing the agency contract or before the students’ next eligible athletic event, whichever comes first? Are sports agents bending the rules under SPARTA by making false promises about how much money student athletes will make for endorsements? Lying about who they’ve worked with in the past? Or using illegal gifts to athletes (or their families) to convince them to sign? If you’re thinking of signing a contract with a sports agent: Let your school know when you hire a sports agent. Agents are required to notify your school about the contract. But you can let your school know about the contract as soon as you sign. Talk with someone you trust. A family member or friend can help make sure you get the information required under SPARTA, understand the terms of the agency contract, and keep good records. Tell the FTC if you think a sports agent has done something wrong. Share your experiences with us by going here. You can report to us anonymously, if you prefer.