Recruiting Strategy

Perhaps the most fun part and the reason many become sports agents is the recruiting process. When the college football season roles around each year, agents swarm campuses to seal the deal on potential draft picks. This can be both a very expensive and very rewarding undertaking. Some agents use the spray-and-pray method where they reach out to as many potential draftees as possible and hope to sign them based on their reputations, promises, and sometimes-unscrupulous behavior. Others fine tune their recruiting lists and zero in on their most desirable recruits. They only approach a limited number of clients and have substantial face-to-face communications with these players. These agents also rely on their reputations but expect considerations will be based on their close interactions with the recruits.

My approach in recruiting will be very focused and very direct. I will likely select only five or six guys to recruit in hopes of landing two or three. This approach can be very risky if I don’t pursue players who are likely to sign with me. Selecting guys I think I might “click” with will prove successful. Many players choose to sign with agents they just have a gut feeling about.  This has become evident in MLB Trade Rumor’s series on “Why I Chose My Agency”. This is further evident in the interview with St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Adam Wainwright in which he states, "I just got a great feeling about him.”

Having a limited number of clients (and a short recruiting list) will let me better serve my them since I will not be negotiating contracts for players at the same position, on the same team, or even worse, both. This conflict of interest may deter some players from signing with larger agencies or agents with a long list of clients.

Since I have my recruiting strategy together, the selection of which clients to recruit is my only dilemma. My ideal client will have an outstanding reputation both on and off the field. Having great character is important for nearly all companies wishing to work with professional athletes. Having great clients will allow me to turn a profit despite having a short client list. With plans of beginning recruiting this upcoming football season, my list of potential recruits is beginning to take shape and the most exciting part of being an agent can begin.