ABOUT DLZ SPORTS
Hoping to pursue a career as a sports agent or related to sports-law, I have dedicated time to learning more about the industry and performing research on topics found at the intersection between sports, business, and law. Through my research I have become particularly interested in NIL contracts.
After thorough research and having conversations with NIL, NBA, and NFL agents, as well as individuals who work at NIL specific companies such as Opendorse and Athlyt, many of my questions about NIL contracts have been answered. It is my goal to share the knowledge that I have gained with others, especially athletes, who may be unaware of the possibilities and opportunities that NIL legislation has given them.
DLZ Sports helps inform athletes of these possibilities, reaches out to companies (of all sizes and types) that share the same demographic as their social media following, and acts as the liaison between businesses and athletes. As a high school student myself, I do not profit from these negotiations. Instead, my hope is to apply what I have learned and to begin working towards my career goals.
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MY ROLE
I perform outreach to both athletes and businesses who might be interested in signing deals.
The process involves thorough conversations with my clients -- I've found that the key to these deals is learning what makes each athlete unique.
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With this information, I craft a unique profile that I can present to companies. After agreeing upon the athlete's "pitch," I reach out to potential companies with values and goals that align with my clients and shared demographics with the athletes' followings. I provide businesses with an introduction to the athletes that I think best align with them, background information (school, sport, number of followers), and a explanation of how these athletes could potentially support the business and attract customers.
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Below are two examples of athletes I've worked with and how I've applied this process.
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Jill is an outside hitter for a Division 1 volleyball program in the Missouri Valley Conference. Before attending her current university, she lived in the Philippines and played at one of the top volleyball programs in the country. Desiring a change, she decided to leave her home behind and chase her dreams in the United States.
Adjusting to this change was not easy: it was difficult to not feel isolated in a new country, struggling to conform to American culture and norms. However, sports are a universal language, giving Jill an escape from more difficult aspects of her move. With her determination and grit, Jill grew to be comfortable in her environment. Understanding what it felt like to lack such confidence, Jill made it her goal to make those around her feel encouraged and valued.
We wanted to find a company that shared such values. As a D1 athlete and rising volleyball in the Philippines, her audience (around 5000 followers) consisted of many other athletes, or those interested in sports or fitness. As a result, I decided to look for athletic wear companies and found Astoria, who worked to provide activewear designed to make people feel comfortable and confident. By emphasizing her determination and grit, we convinced Astoria to work with her.
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Gabe is a running back for a D1 football program in the Big 10 Conference. I started working with him in his senior year of high school. As a four star recruit and put in ESPN’s Top 300 list, Gabe was one of the top offensive players in his class.
Moving from Michigan to New Jersey, Gabe felt disillusioned at the beginning of his senior year. Although his new teammates were welcoming and the season was going well, he expressed how he ached for Michigan – his old team and community who had encouraged him. He attributed his success and attention from top college programs to their encouragement, and often said that if he ever made it big, he would be sure to demonstrate his appreciation for where he came from.
It was important to Gabe that we worked with a company that valued their roots. We found Sleefs – a football glove company based in Florida that worked to give back to their community. Donating over $250,000 to many nonprofit organizations, foundations, and local schools, Sleefs seemed like a great match. I reached out to the company, discussing Gabe’s story, his potential as a promising prospect and future D1 athlete, and shared demographics between his social media following (around 4,000 people) and their target audience.