what are your thoughts on this idea?

**stlyoungbizman** · 02-22-2008 02:45 PM

(this is a raw idea)I was thinkin of doing something along the lines of a sports marketing co. offer representation to college athletes trying to go into pro sports, summer training for young athletes for a certain hourly rate, and have a website where ill charge a annual fee to have a individual profile page that they can post all their accolades. My dad owns a youth bball organization so i could sendout newsletter to his contacts about my services to get start. please offer feed back. I need help with some good biz ideas!

**malahverdian** · 02-22-2008 04:03 PM

There are lots of NCAA rules, so you would have to make sure you aren't breaking any of those... also in my experience, athletes aren't a marketable product... if you are good enough for the pros, the pros already know, as far as college players are concerned.

**BusinessAdviser** · 02-22-2008 04:11 PM

The players will actually use agents for the purpose of negotiating contracts and other important aspects of going pro. However, you have to stop and ask yourself, "Why would an athlete choose me?"

**tazman9r** · 02-22-2008 06:29 PM

What can you offer an athlete?

Do you know anyone in the collegiate and professional world to market these athletes to?

Your job would basically be to "sell" these athletes to colleges and pro teams, do you have to knowledge to do that?

I like the ideas you put out, I think if you were to start out with the "myspace of sports" you could grow into other areas. There are a lot of agents out there who know the ropes. The really successful ones are sought out by athletes because they are so good. For the idea you put forward to really take off, I think the environment needs to first be created that there is a place online for an athlete to put up there sports resumes for the purpose of being easily researched by a prospective school or team. I would create the environment first, then a system for generating a profit.

This means working with both athletes and sports entities. You dad might be able to help with this.

Hope this helps.

**awhabermehl** · 02-23-2008 12:08 PM

I am confused, are you offering the services of a sports agent? Because then you won't be able to work hand in hand with the college athletes until they graduate. An NCAA athlete can't have an agent and still play their sport in college. Also, do you have a degree in sports management or a similar field, or a law degree? What experience do you have in the fields?

Most college athletes who are going pro are not going to go with a person who has no experience or education, because they are trusting their future with that person.

I think you have a great idea with the website, though, were players can create profiles. That would probably be a lot more marketable to high school athletes, though, rather than college ones. As someone above said, college kids who are going pro are good enough that they do not need to tout their talents. However, their are so many high school kids that having an individual page would help greatly in getting their name out to college recruiters.

Work on the website, and the fact that your dad has connections with youth basketball leagues gives you an in on your target market.

**GhostFac3** · 02-23-2008 12:37 PM

I think he is suggesting a service similar to rivals.com maybe, but for college athletes and not just football and basketball.

I like the general idea for ALL sports, but the same questions that everyone else are suggesting still apply. I would start off by calling the NCAA and the organizations that you want to market these people too.

**pboychuk** · 02-23-2008 12:42 PM

What about using the same idea for high school. I see it kinda like tutoring, high school kids are paying for SAT prep. and trying to get the best grades possible to get into whatever college. but once in college, they are offered many of those services free, as athletes are. Also, there a a lot more college teams than pro teams. I am not sure how you would market a high school athlete however, i assume the same way you would a college one.

**Ahern & Brucker** · 02-23-2008 12:45 PM

Well for my .02 cents..

Idea is great but your target is wrong...

offer the same service starting with the t-ballers in k-garten and working your way up to HS. market their "stats" more along the line of an online baseball card...

You want to be selling your service to the wannabe's and overly proud parents... not pros. sell your service to the people who will never get a baseball card or make the first red cent in the sport of their choice... these are the folks who will pay a small fee yearly. (and their are a LOT more of them)

become the sports rep of the little league teams and I think you have a chance... try it the otherway and you will fail. (sorry)

**BusinessAdviser** · 02-23-2008 12:46 PM

You need to do a bit of research into the NCAA's definition of "agent" or "representative" to determine what services you are able to provide to which individuals and for what kinds of compensation.

**stlyoungbizman** · 02-26-2008 04:09 PM

thanks for all your insite. I re thought it all and would do more of the lines of a myspace type. where kids in sports of all ages can have online profile to market themselves and put their accolades on their. It will be a athlete community to meet athletes from all over of different types of sports. should i charge for the start up or make it free and just generate profit from ads other other option kind of like other site we see thats free.

**paul2145r** · 02-26-2008 08:07 PM

The only problem with allowing people to post accolades is the fact that you will get ALOT of false claims. If you could set up a system where they would be verified by the local sports representatives (coaches, league managers/scorekeepers, etc), then it would be an interesting concept.

Another thing that you could consider, as Tazman9r stated, is setting up a "Myspace of Sports". Find a way to get agents and talent scouts to look at videos, pictures, and profiles of athletes throughout the country. On an even bigger scope- how about offering the service to people around the world? Talent scouts would jump on the fact that they can scout players and athletes from other countries without having to leave their sofas!

One way you could do this is get a standardized system going- every week have a new challenge. One week, ask for videos of the most creative dunks. Users can vote for the top 10, and they go on the front page. Next week- throwing a football long-distance. The best throws get on the front page. So on and so forth. This would inspire the competitive nature of the sports segment, and make it fun for everyone.

That's my 2 cents!!

**Tjohnson** · 06-29-2008 03:13 PM

there is a guy where i live at in philadelphia but he offers services and training to high school, college, and pros and he charges a fee. I am looking to start a marketing agency for athletes and performers and brands

**matt_15** · 06-29-2008 03:20 PM

are you asking us what we think about the idea of you becoming a coach? or do you want to be an agent? If you think you can be a coach you need coaching badges, which take time to get.

**cashflowportfolio** · 06-29-2008 05:07 PM

Ideal is great but your playing in a political/money talk first environment. I would recommend you try to maybe intern for some sport agents to get your feet wet and get an understanding of how the quote game is played and what happens behind close doors. Then you ask your self is your stomach strong enough to deal with the cut throat environment. Just my thought peace