{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-526.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-526.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-526.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-526.html"}],"law_id":61060,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61060,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-526","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"2020, c. 481; 2022, cc. 510, 638.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Agency contract&#8221; means an agreement in which a student-athlete authorizes a person to negotiate or solicit on behalf of the student-athlete a professional sports services contract or endorsement contract.\n\t\t&#8220;Athlete agent&#8221; means an individual, whether or not registered under this chapter, who (i) directly or indirectly recruits or solicits a student-athlete to enter into an agency contract or, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for a student-athlete as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization; (ii) for compensation or in anticipation of compensation related to a student-athlete&#8217;s participation in athletics (a) serves the student-athlete in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances, business pursuits, or career management decisions, unless the individual is an employee of an educational institution acting exclusively as an employee of the institution for the benefit of the institution, or (b) manages the business affairs of the student-athlete by providing assistance with bills, payments, contracts, or taxes; (iii) in anticipation of representing a student-athlete for a purpose related to the student-athlete&#8217;s participation in athletics (a) gives consideration to the student-athlete or another person, (b) serves the student-athlete in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances, business pursuits, or career management decisions, or (c) manages the business affairs of the student-athlete by providing assistance with bills, payments, contracts, or taxes; or (iv) represents a student-athlete in connection with issues related to name, image, or likeness, including negotiating, securing, obtaining, arranging, and managing name, image, or likeness opportunities. &#8220;Athlete agent&#8221; does not include an individual who (a) acts solely on behalf of a professional sports team or organization or (b) is a licensed, registered, or certified professional and offers or provides services to a student-athlete customarily provided by members of the profession, unless the individual (1) also recruits or solicits the student-athlete to enter into an agency contract, (2) also, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for the student-athlete as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization, or (3) receives consideration for providing the services calculated using a different method than for an individual who is not a student-athlete.\n\t\t&#8220;Athletic director&#8221; means the individual responsible for administering the overall athletic program of an educational institution or, if an educational institution has separately administered athletic programs for male students and female students, the athletic program for males or the athletic program for females, as appropriate.\n\t\t&#8220;Director&#8221; means the Director of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.\n\t\t&#8220;Educational institution&#8221; means a public or private (i) elementary school, (ii) secondary school, (iii) technical or vocational school, (iv) community college, or (v) institution of higher education.\n\t\t&#8220;Endorsement contract&#8221; means an agreement under which a student-athlete is employed or receives consideration to use on behalf of the other party any value that the student-athlete may have because of publicity, reputation, following, or fame obtained because of athletic ability or performance.\n\t\t&#8220;Enrolled&#8221; or &#8220;enrolls&#8221; means registered for courses and attending athletic practice or class.\n\t\t&#8220;Intercollegiate sport&#8221; means a sport played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student-athlete are established by a national association that promotes or regulates collegiate athletics.\n\t\t&#8220;Interscholastic sport&#8221; means a sport played between educational institutions that are not community colleges or institutions of higher education.\n\t\t&#8220;Licensed, registered, or certified professional&#8221; means an individual, other than an athlete agent, who is licensed, registered, or certified as an attorney, dealer in securities, financial planner, insurance agent, real estate broker or sales agent, tax consultant, accountant, or member of a profession by the Commonwealth or a nationally recognized organization that licenses, registers, or certifies members of the profession on the basis of experience, education, or testing.\n\t\t&#8220;Person&#8221; means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality or other legal entity.\n\t\t&#8220;Professional sports services contract&#8221; means an agreement under which an individual is employed as a professional athlete or agrees to render services as a player on a professional sports team or with a professional sports organization.\n\t\t&#8220;Record&#8221; means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.\n\t\t&#8220;Recruit or solicit&#8221; means an attempt to influence the choice of an athlete agent by a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete. &#8220;Recruit or solicit&#8221; does not include giving advice on the selection of a particular agent in a family, coaching, or social situation unless the individual giving the advice does so because of the receipt or anticipated receipt of an economic benefit, directly or indirectly, from the agent.\n\t\t&#8220;Registration&#8221; means registration as an athlete agent.\n\t\t&#8220;Sign&#8221; means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record, (i) to execute or adopt a tangible symbol or (ii) to attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.\n\t\t&#8220;State&#8221; means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.\n\t\t&#8220;Student-athlete&#8221; means an individual who is eligible to attend an educational institution and engages in, is eligible to engage in, or may be eligible in the future to engage in any interscholastic or intercollegiate sport. &#8220;Student-athlete&#8221; does not include, for a particular interscholastic or intercollegiate sport, an individual permanently ineligible to participate in that sport.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":223272,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Agency contract&#8221; means an agreement in which a student-athlete authorizes a person to negotiate or solicit on behalf of the student-athlete a professional sports services contract or endorsement contract.\n\t\t&#8220;Athlete agent&#8221; means an individual, whether or not registered under this chapter, who (i) directly or indirectly recruits or solicits a student-athlete to enter into an agency contract or, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for a student-athlete as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization; (ii) for compensation or in anticipation of compensation related to a student-athlete&#8217;s participation in athletics (a) serves the student-athlete in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances, business pursuits, or career management decisions, unless the individual is an employee of an educational institution acting exclusively as an employee of the institution for the benefit of the institution, or (b) manages the business affairs of the student-athlete by providing assistance with bills, payments, contracts, or taxes; (iii) in anticipation of representing a student-athlete for a purpose related to the student-athlete&#8217;s participation in athletics (a) gives consideration to the student-athlete or another person, (b) serves the student-athlete in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances, business pursuits, or career management decisions, or (c) manages the business affairs of the student-athlete by providing assistance with bills, payments, contracts, or taxes; or (iv) represents a student-athlete in connection with issues related to name, image, or likeness, including negotiating, securing, obtaining, arranging, and managing name, image, or likeness opportunities. &#8220;Athlete agent&#8221; does not include an individual who (a) acts solely on behalf of a professional sports team or organization or (b) is a licensed, registered, or certified professional and offers or provides services to a student-athlete customarily provided by members of the profession, unless the individual (1) also recruits or solicits the student-athlete to enter into an agency contract, (2) also, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for the student-athlete as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization, or (3) receives consideration for providing the services calculated using a different method than for an individual who is not a student-athlete.\n\t\t&#8220;Athletic director&#8221; means the individual responsible for administering the overall athletic program of an educational institution or, if an educational institution has separately administered athletic programs for male students and female students, the athletic program for males or the athletic program for females, as appropriate.\n\t\t&#8220;Director&#8221; means the Director of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.\n\t\t&#8220;Educational institution&#8221; means a public or private (i) elementary school, (ii) secondary school, (iii) technical or vocational school, (iv) community college, or (v) institution of higher education.\n\t\t&#8220;Endorsement contract&#8221; means an agreement under which a student-athlete is employed or receives consideration to use on behalf of the other party any value that the student-athlete may have because of publicity, reputation, following, or fame obtained because of athletic ability or performance.\n\t\t&#8220;Enrolled&#8221; or &#8220;enrolls&#8221; means registered for courses and attending athletic practice or class.\n\t\t&#8220;Intercollegiate sport&#8221; means a sport played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student-athlete are established by a national association that promotes or regulates collegiate athletics.\n\t\t&#8220;Interscholastic sport&#8221; means a sport played between educational institutions that are not community colleges or institutions of higher education.\n\t\t&#8220;Licensed, registered, or certified professional&#8221; means an individual, other than an athlete agent, who is licensed, registered, or certified as an attorney, dealer in securities, financial planner, insurance agent, real estate broker or sales agent, tax consultant, accountant, or member of a profession by the Commonwealth or a nationally recognized organization that licenses, registers, or certifies members of the profession on the basis of experience, education, or testing.\n\t\t&#8220;Person&#8221; means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality or other legal entity.\n\t\t&#8220;Professional sports services contract&#8221; means an agreement under which an individual is employed as a professional athlete or agrees to render services as a player on a professional sports team or with a professional sports organization.\n\t\t&#8220;Record&#8221; means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.\n\t\t&#8220;Recruit or solicit&#8221; means an attempt to influence the choice of an athlete agent by a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete. &#8220;Recruit or solicit&#8221; does not include giving advice on the selection of a particular agent in a family, coaching, or social situation unless the individual giving the advice does so because of the receipt or anticipated receipt of an economic benefit, directly or indirectly, from the agent.\n\t\t&#8220;Registration&#8221; means registration as an athlete agent.\n\t\t&#8220;Sign&#8221; means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record, (i) to execute or adopt a tangible symbol or (ii) to attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.\n\t\t&#8220;State&#8221; means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.\n\t\t&#8220;Student-athlete&#8221; means an individual who is eligible to attend an educational institution and engages in, is eligible to engage in, or may be eligible in the future to engage in any interscholastic or intercollegiate sport. &#8220;Student-athlete&#8221; does not include, for a particular interscholastic or intercollegiate sport, an individual permanently ineligible to participate in that sport.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13306,"edition_id":1,"name":"Athlete Agents","identifier":"5.2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12755,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:37","permalink":{"id":240761,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13306,"identifier":"5.2","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2","url":"\/54.1\/II\/5.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12755,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239415,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12755,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":61060,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-526","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-526\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-526","metadata":false},{"id":76371,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-527","catch_line":"Authority; procedure","url":"\/54.1-527\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-527","metadata":false},{"id":81682,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-528","catch_line":"Athlete agent; registration required; void contract","url":"\/54.1-528\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-528","metadata":false},{"id":71929,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-529","catch_line":"Registration as athlete agent; application; requirements; reciprocal registration; penalty","url":"\/54.1-529\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-529","metadata":false},{"id":75849,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-530","catch_line":"Certificate of registration; issuance or denials; renewal","url":"\/54.1-530\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-530","metadata":false},{"id":74728,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-531","catch_line":"Suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew registration","url":"\/54.1-531\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-531","metadata":false},{"id":71493,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-532","catch_line":"Temporary registration","url":"\/54.1-532\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-532","metadata":false},{"id":86089,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-533","catch_line":"Registration and renewal fees","url":"\/54.1-533\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-533","metadata":false},{"id":71796,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-534","catch_line":"Required form of agency contract","url":"\/54.1-534\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-534","metadata":false},{"id":74305,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-535","catch_line":"Notice to educational institution","url":"\/54.1-535\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-535","metadata":false},{"id":55456,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-536","catch_line":"Student-athlete's right to cancel","url":"\/54.1-536\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-536","metadata":false},{"id":54295,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-537","catch_line":"Required records","url":"\/54.1-537\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-537","metadata":false},{"id":62500,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-538","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct","url":"\/54.1-538\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-538","metadata":false},{"id":69392,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-539","catch_line":"Criminal penalty","url":"\/54.1-539\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-539","metadata":false},{"id":84203,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-540","catch_line":"Civil remedy; penalty","url":"\/54.1-540\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-540","metadata":false},{"id":60479,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-541","catch_line":"Uniformity of application of construction","url":"\/54.1-541\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-541","metadata":false},{"id":76569,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-542","catch_line":"Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act","url":"\/54.1-542\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-542","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":76371,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-527","catch_line":"Authority; procedure","url":"\/54.1-527\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-527","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-526\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?201+ful+CHAP0481\">481<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2022, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0510\">510<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0638\">638<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":63617,"section_number":"22.1-212.2:4","catch_line":"Interscholastic athletics; student-athletes; compensation and representation for name, image, or likeness","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-212.2_4\/"},{"id":54486,"section_number":"23.1-408.1","catch_line":"Intercollegiate athletics; student-athletes; compensation and representation for name, image, or likeness","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-408.1\/"},{"id":82977,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":240763,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61060,"identifier":"54.1-526","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-526","url":"\/54.1-526\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-526\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-526","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-526","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Agency contract<\/span>&#8221; means an agreement in which a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> authorizes a <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> to negotiate or solicit on behalf of the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> a <span class=\"dictionary\">professional sports services contract<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">endorsement contract<\/span>.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Athlete agent<\/span>&#8221; means an individual, whether or not registered under this chapter, who (i) directly or indirectly recruits or solicits a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> to enter into an <span class=\"dictionary\">agency contract<\/span> or, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization; (ii) for compensation or in anticipation of compensation related to a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>&#8217;s participation in athletics (a) serves the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances, business pursuits, or career management decisions, unless the individual is an employee of an <span class=\"dictionary\">educational institution<\/span> acting exclusively as an employee of the institution for the benefit of the institution, or (b) manages the business affairs of the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> by providing assistance with bills, payments, <span class=\"dictionary\">contracts<\/span>, or taxes; (iii) in anticipation of representing a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> for a purpose related to the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>&#8217;s participation in athletics (a) gives consideration to the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> or another <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span>, (b) serves the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances, business pursuits, or career management decisions, or (c) manages the business affairs of the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> by providing assistance with bills, payments, <span class=\"dictionary\">contracts<\/span>, or taxes; or (iv) represents a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> in connection with <span class=\"dictionary\">issues<\/span> related to name, image, or likeness, including negotiating, securing, obtaining, arranging, and managing name, image, or likeness opportunities. &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Athlete agent<\/span>&#8221; does not include an individual who (a) acts solely on behalf of a professional sports team or organization or (b) is a <span class=\"dictionary\">licensed, registered, or certified professional<\/span> and offers or provides services to a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> customarily provided by members of the profession, unless the individual (1) also recruits or solicits the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> to enter into an <span class=\"dictionary\">agency contract<\/span>, (2) also, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization, or (3) receives consideration for providing the services calculated using a different method than for an individual who is not a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Athletic director<\/span>&#8221; means the individual responsible for administering the overall athletic program of an <span class=\"dictionary\">educational institution<\/span> or, if an <span class=\"dictionary\">educational institution<\/span> has separately administered athletic programs for male students and female students, the athletic program for males or the athletic program for females, as appropriate.\n\t\t&#8220;Director&#8221; means the Director of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Educational institution<\/span>&#8221; means a public or private (i) elementary school, (ii) secondary school, (iii) technical or vocational school, (iv) community college, or (v) institution of higher education.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Endorsement contract<\/span>&#8221; means an agreement under which a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> is employed or receives consideration to use on behalf of the other <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> any value that the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> may have because of publicity, reputation, following, or fame obtained because of athletic ability or performance.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Enrolled<\/span>&#8221; or &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">enrolls<\/span>&#8221; means registered for courses and attending athletic practice or class.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Intercollegiate sport<\/span>&#8221; means a sport played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> are established by a national association that promotes or regulates collegiate athletics.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Interscholastic sport<\/span>&#8221; means a sport played between <span class=\"dictionary\">educational institutions<\/span> that are not community colleges or institutions of higher education.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Licensed, registered, or certified professional<\/span>&#8221; means an individual, other than an <span class=\"dictionary\">athlete agent<\/span>, who is licensed, registered, or certified as an attorney, dealer in securities, financial planner, insurance agent, real estate broker or sales agent, tax consultant, accountant, or member of a profession by the Commonwealth or a nationally recognized organization that licenses, registers, or certifies members of the profession on the basis of experience, education, or testing.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Person<\/span>&#8221; means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality or other legal entity.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Professional sports services contract<\/span>&#8221; means an agreement under which an individual is employed as a professional athlete or agrees to render services as a player on a professional sports team or with a professional sports organization.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Record<\/span>&#8221; means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Recruit or solicit<\/span>&#8221; means an attempt to influence the choice of an <span class=\"dictionary\">athlete agent<\/span> by a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> or, if the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> is a <span class=\"dictionary\">minor<\/span>, a parent or guardian of the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>. &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Recruit or solicit<\/span>&#8221; does not include giving advice on the selection of a particular agent in a family, coaching, or social situation unless the individual giving the advice does so because of the receipt or anticipated receipt of an economic benefit, directly or indirectly, from the agent.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Registration<\/span>&#8221; means <span class=\"dictionary\">registration<\/span> as an <span class=\"dictionary\">athlete agent<\/span>.\n\t\t&#8220;Sign&#8221; means, with present <span class=\"dictionary\">intent<\/span> to authenticate or adopt a <span class=\"dictionary\">record<\/span>, (i) to execute or adopt a tangible symbol or (ii) to attach to or logically associate with the <span class=\"dictionary\">record<\/span> an electronic symbol, sound, or process.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">State<\/span>&#8221; means a <span class=\"dictionary\">state<\/span> of the United <span class=\"dictionary\">States<\/span>, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United <span class=\"dictionary\">States<\/span> Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular <span class=\"dictionary\">possession<\/span> subject to the <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> of the United <span class=\"dictionary\">States<\/span>.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Student-athlete<\/span>&#8221; means an individual who is eligible to attend an <span class=\"dictionary\">educational institution<\/span> and engages in, is eligible to engage in, or may be eligible in the future to engage in any interscholastic or <span class=\"dictionary\">intercollegiate sport<\/span>. &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Student-athlete<\/span>&#8221; does not include, for a particular interscholastic or <span class=\"dictionary\">intercollegiate sport<\/span>, an individual permanently ineligible to participate in that sport.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 54.1-526)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Agency contract&#8221; means an agreement in which a student-athlete\nauthorizes a person to negotiate or solicit on behalf of the student-athlete a\nprofessional sports services contract or endorsement contract.\n\t\t&#8220;Athlete agent&#8221; means an individual, whether or not registered\nunder this chapter, who (i) directly or indirectly recruits or solicits a\nstudent-athlete to enter into an agency contract or, for compensation, procures\nemployment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for\na student-athlete as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports\nteam or organization; (ii) for compensation or in anticipation of compensation\nrelated to a student-athlete&#8217;s participation in athletics (a) serves the\nstudent-athlete in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances,\nbusiness pursuits, or career management decisions, unless the individual is an\nemployee of an educational institution acting exclusively as an employee of the\ninstitution for the benefit of the institution, or (b) manages the business\naffairs of the student-athlete by providing assistance with bills, payments,\ncontracts, or taxes; (iii) in anticipation of representing a student-athlete for\na purpose related to the student-athlete&#8217;s participation in athletics (a)\ngives consideration to the student-athlete or another person, (b) serves the\nstudent-athlete in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances,\nbusiness pursuits, or career management decisions, or (c) manages the business\naffairs of the student-athlete by providing assistance with bills, payments,\ncontracts, or taxes; or (iv) represents a student-athlete in connection with\nissues related to name, image, or likeness, including negotiating, securing,\nobtaining, arranging, and managing name, image, or likeness opportunities.\n&#8220;Athlete agent&#8221; does not include an individual who (a) acts solely\non behalf of a professional sports team or organization or (b) is a licensed,\nregistered, or certified professional and offers or provides services to a\nstudent-athlete customarily provided by members of the profession, unless the\nindividual (1) also recruits or solicits the student-athlete to enter into an\nagency contract, (2) also, for compensation, procures employment or offers,\npromises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for the student-athlete\nas a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or\norganization, or (3) receives consideration for providing the services\ncalculated using a different method than for an individual who is not a\nstudent-athlete.\n\t\t&#8220;Athletic director&#8221; means the individual responsible for\nadministering the overall athletic program of an educational institution or, if\nan educational institution has separately administered athletic programs for\nmale students and female students, the athletic program for males or the\nathletic program for females, as appropriate.\n\t\t&#8220;Director&#8221; means the Director of the Department of Professional\nand Occupational Regulation.\n\t\t&#8220;Educational institution&#8221; means a public or private (i) elementary\nschool, (ii) secondary school, (iii) technical or vocational school, (iv)\ncommunity college, or (v) institution of higher education.\n\t\t&#8220;Endorsement contract&#8221; means an agreement under which a\nstudent-athlete is employed or receives consideration to use on behalf of the\nother party any value that the student-athlete may have because of publicity,\nreputation, following, or fame obtained because of athletic ability or\nperformance.\n\t\t&#8220;Enrolled&#8221; or &#8220;enrolls&#8221; means registered for courses\nand attending athletic practice or class.\n\t\t&#8220;Intercollegiate sport&#8221; means a sport played at the collegiate\nlevel for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student-athlete\nare established by a national association that promotes or regulates collegiate\nathletics.\n\t\t&#8220;Interscholastic sport&#8221; means a sport played between educational\ninstitutions that are not community colleges or institutions of higher\neducation.\n\t\t&#8220;Licensed, registered, or certified professional&#8221; means an\nindividual, other than an athlete agent, who is licensed, registered, or\ncertified as an attorney, dealer in securities, financial planner, insurance\nagent, real estate broker or sales agent, tax consultant, accountant, or member\nof a profession by the Commonwealth or a nationally recognized organization that\nlicenses, registers, or certifies members of the profession on the basis of\nexperience, education, or testing.\n\t\t&#8220;Person&#8221; means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit\nentity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or\ninstrumentality or other legal entity.\n\t\t&#8220;Professional sports services contract&#8221; means an agreement under\nwhich an individual is employed as a professional athlete or agrees to render\nservices as a player on a professional sports team or with a professional sports\norganization.\n\t\t&#8220;Record&#8221; means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium\nor that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in\nperceivable form.\n\t\t&#8220;Recruit or solicit&#8221; means an attempt to influence the choice of\nan athlete agent by a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a\nparent or guardian of the student-athlete. &#8220;Recruit or solicit&#8221; does\nnot include giving advice on the selection of a particular agent in a family,\ncoaching, or social situation unless the individual giving the advice does so\nbecause of the receipt or anticipated receipt of an economic benefit, directly\nor indirectly, from the agent.\n\t\t&#8220;Registration&#8221; means registration as an athlete agent.\n\t\t&#8220;Sign&#8221; means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a\nrecord, (i) to execute or adopt a tangible symbol or (ii) to attach to or\nlogically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.\n\t\t&#8220;State&#8221; means a state of the United States, the District of\nColumbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or\ninsular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.\n\t\t&#8220;Student-athlete&#8221; means an individual who is eligible to attend an\neducational institution and engages in, is eligible to engage in, or may be\neligible in the future to engage in any interscholastic or intercollegiate\nsport. &#8220;Student-athlete&#8221; does not include, for a particular\ninterscholastic or intercollegiate sport, an individual permanently ineligible\nto participate in that sport.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 481; 2022, cc. 510, 638.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}