By Gregg Clifton
Reacting to improper agent interactions with undergraduate student-athletes, the University of Washington and the University of North Carolina have enacted and formally introduced amended agent regulations. Both schools are adding new rules that restrict agent interaction with student-athletes. The University of Washington’s policy also contains restrictions on financial advisors and their associates.
The University of North Carolina’s enactment follows the school’s recent alleged NCAA rules violations regarding gifts and benefits received by its athletes from sports agents.
The new policy with regard to agent access to football players states:
Student-athletes are permitted to one, one-hour, in person meeting on campus with prospective agents during one week in the summer (July 16-20).
Student-athletes cannot call agents at all during the month of August and are limited to calls from 7 pm -10 pm in September.
No emails, texting or other forms of social media communication is permitted in August. In September, the student-athlete may only use these communication methods from Sunday-Wednesday.
The University of North Carolina policy covers NFLPA Certified Contract Advisors only and does not restrict student-athlete contact with financial advisors, marketing representatives, or business managers.
The University of Washington’s new agent policy requires agents as well as financial advisors and their associates to refrain from personal contact with student-athletes and their family and friends until the athletes have exhausted their college eligibility. In addition, the policy requires that any information forwarded from the agent to a student-athlete be mailed to the school’s Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance.
While the University of Washington’s policy places barriers between its student-athletes, agents and financial advisors, it also permits limited access to senior athletes in certain sports, such as football, through a regulated “Agent Calendar.” The Calendar takes effect following the completion of a student-athlete’s third season of competition. The football Agent Calendar provides:
January-March—No agent contact permitted.
April-June—Only in-person contact permitted at either the player’s home or on-campus is permitted. A parent/guardian must be present at the meeting.
July—Only on-campus agent interviews are allowed by player invitation only.
August-December—No in-person contact is permitted. Agents are allowed one call per week, on Sunday or Monday and text messages may be sent on Sundays and Mondays only.
In the weeks ahead we expect more universities may follow this decision to restrict agent access and potential interactions with student-athletes.
Gregg Clifton is an attorney at the law firm of Jackson Lewis. He is co-chair of the firm’s Collegiate and Professional Sports Industry Group. He has extensive experience in the collegiate and professional sports world. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Clifton spent six years as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Team Sports for Gaylord Sports Management. He has also served as Vice President and Senior Counsel for Athlete Representation at Octagon, a national sports marketing firm, and as President of the Athlete and Entertainment Division for famed sports attorney Bob Woolf’s firm, Woolf Associates, in Boston.
