What Every Young Professional Needs to Know Before Working with an Athlete or Agency

Getting your first publicist or content creator gig with an athlete or sports agency is exciting—but it also comes with pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. Here’s what every intern or young professional should know before diving in.

The Allure of “Future Pay”

It’s common to hear, “Work with me now, and I’ll pay you later.” But “later” can be vague—or never come. Before you agree to unpaid work:

• Ask for a timeline. If “future pay” means a bonus after six months or a whole campaign next year, get that in writing.
• Set clear milestones. Structure your arrangement around deliverables (e.g., “After three social-media campaigns, I’ll receive $X.”).

Free Labor vs. Fair Value

Volunteering to help at an event or run errands can be a great way to learn—but don’t let “free” become exploitative.

• Define your hours. Limit unpaid work to a reasonable trial period (e.g., two weeks, 10 hours per week).
• Request feedback. If you’re investing time, you should receive mentorship or a formal evaluation.

Who Owns What

Understanding ownership is crucial—whether you’re producing creative content or building sponsorship relationships—for both agencies and individual athletes.

Creative Content

Includes blog posts, social-media graphics, videos, training footage, and any other media you produce.

• Working for an agency:
  • Work-for-hire: The agency typically claims full ownership of all assets.
  • License carve-out: You retain ownership of your work but grant the agency broad usage rights.
• Working for an individual athlete:
  • Work-for-hire: The athlete owns the final deliverables, but you may negotiate narrower usage (e.g., limited to personal channels).
  • License carve-out: You keep ownership and grant the athlete permission to use content for agreed-upon purposes.
• Portfolio rights:
  In both cases, negotiate the right to display your work—graphics, videos, blog posts—in your personal portfolio.

Sponsorship Relationships & Contacts

Encompasses pitch decks, outreach templates, sponsor contact lists, and the relationships you foster.

• Working for an agency:
  • Work-for-hire: The agency owns both the materials you create and the sponsor relationships you establish.
  • License/carve-out: You may retain rights to your templates and contact lists while granting the agency control of the sponsorship agreements.
• Working for an individual athlete:
  • Work-for-hire: The athlete owns the outreach materials and sponsorship deals, but you can negotiate to keep your templates.
  • License/carve-out: You retain ownership of your tools and can grant the athlete a license to manage those relationships.
• Relationship credit:
  Secure written acknowledgment of the contacts and goodwill you’ve cultivated—so you can leverage them in future roles.

** If ownership details aren’t clarified up front—whether you’re hired by an agency or an athlete—request a written agreement before you depart. That way, you can still showcase your creative work and benefit from the relationships you built.

Understand Your Team Structure

Before you start, make sure you know who you’ll collaborate with and report to:

• Clarify roles and hierarchy. Who is your direct supervisor? Which teammates or departments will you work alongside?
• Communication channels. Will you report via text, email, Slack, or in weekly meetings?
• Points of contact. Get key stakeholders’ names and contact info—spouse/partner, agent, PR staff, social-media managers, etc.
• Expectation alignment. Ask how decisions are made and what approvals are needed for your work.

**If the athlete or hiring manager initially skipped this step, you must advocate for yourself and request this information. If you are not given clear or complete info, that’s a red flag, and you should likely move on. 

The Importance of a Contract

A handshake might feel “trusting,” but a written agreement protects both sides.

• Key contract elements:
  • Scope of work and deliverables
  • Payment terms (amount, timing, method)
  • Content ownership and portfolio rights
  • Confidentiality and non-disclosure clauses
  • Termination notice and process
• Get it reviewed. Even a simple 1-page contract is better than none—ask a parent, mentor, campus career office, or local small-biz attorney for a quick review.

Negotiation Is Part of the Game

Working for an athlete or agency can be high-profile. Don’t be afraid to negotiate boundaries and expectations.

• Be professional. Frame requests in terms of mutual benefit (“Ensuring I can showcase this work will help me grow, which benefits your brand in the long run.”).
• Know your worth. Even entry-level roles deserve fair compensation—money, mentorship, or both.

Final Tip

Your first role in sports marketing or athlete management is a stepping-stone—make sure it sets you up for real growth, not just busy work. An explicit agreement, transparent expectations, and respect for your creative output will ensure you walk away with experience and tangible value for your résumé.

Good luck out there!