{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-538.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-538.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-538.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-538.html"}],"law_id":62500,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62500,"structure_id":13306,"section_number":"54.1-538","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct","history":"2020, c. 481, \u00a7 54.1-531.","full_text":"An athlete agent may not intentionally:\n\n1\n\nGive a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete materially false or misleading information or make a materially false promise or representation with the intent to influence the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to enter into an agency contract;2\n\nFurnish anything of value to a student-athlete or another individual, if to do so may result in loss of the student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete&#8217;s sport, unless (i) the agent notifies the athletic director of the educational institution at which the student-athlete is enrolled or at which the agent has reasonable grounds to believe the student-athlete intends to enroll, not later than 72 hours after giving the thing of value and (ii) the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete acknowledges to the agent in a record that receipt of the thing of value may result in loss of the student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete&#8217;s sport;3\n\nInitiate contact, directly or indirectly, with a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to recruit or solicit the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to enter an agency contract unless registered under this chapter;4\n\nFail to create, retain, or permit inspection of the records required by &#xA7; 54.1-537;5\n\nFail to register when required by &#xA7; 54.1-528;6\n\nProvide materially false or misleading information in an application for registration or renewal of registration;7\n\nPredate or postdate an agency contract;8\n\nFail to notify a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete before the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete signs an agency contract for a particular sport that the signing may result in loss of the student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete&#8217;s sport;9\n\nEncourage another individual to do any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent; or10\n\nEncourage another individual to assist any other individual in doing any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":227932,"text":"An athlete agent may not intentionally:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":227933,"text":"Give a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete materially false or misleading information or make a materially false promise or representation with the intent to influence the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to enter into an agency contract;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":227934,"text":"Furnish anything of value to a student-athlete or another individual, if to do so may result in loss of the student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete&#8217;s sport, unless (i) the agent notifies the athletic director of the educational institution at which the student-athlete is enrolled or at which the agent has reasonable grounds to believe the student-athlete intends to enroll, not later than 72 hours after giving the thing of value and (ii) the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete acknowledges to the agent in a record that receipt of the thing of value may result in loss of the student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete&#8217;s sport;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":227935,"text":"Initiate contact, directly or indirectly, with a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to recruit or solicit the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to enter an agency contract unless registered under this chapter;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":227936,"text":"Fail to create, retain, or permit inspection of the records required by &#xA7; 54.1-537;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":227937,"text":"Fail to register when required by &#xA7; 54.1-528;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":227938,"text":"Provide materially false or misleading information in an application for registration or renewal of registration;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":227939,"text":"Predate or postdate an agency contract;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":227940,"text":"Fail to notify a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete before the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete signs an agency contract for a particular sport that the signing may result in loss of the student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete&#8217;s sport;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":227941,"text":"Encourage another individual to do any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent; or","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":227942,"text":"Encourage another individual to assist any other individual in doing any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent.","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9"}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-538\/","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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75849,"section_number":"54.1-530","catch_line":"Certificate of registration; issuance or denials; renewal","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-530\/"},{"id":69392,"section_number":"54.1-539","catch_line":"Criminal penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-539\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":81682,"section_number":"54.1-528","catch_line":"Athlete agent; registration required; void contract","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-528\/"},{"id":54295,"section_number":"54.1-537","catch_line":"Required records","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-537\/"}],"permalink":{"id":240811,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62500,"identifier":"54.1-538","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-538","url":"\/54.1-538\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-538\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-538","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibited conduct","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-538","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>An <span class=\"dictionary\">athlete agent<\/span> may not intentionally:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> Give 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> materially false or misleading information or make a materially false promise or representation with the <span class=\"dictionary\">intent<\/span> to influence the <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> to enter into an <span class=\"dictionary\">agency contract<\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-227933\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Furnish anything of value to a <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> or another individual, if to do so may result in loss of the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>&#8217;s sport, unless (i) the agent notifies the <span class=\"dictionary\">athletic director<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">educational institution<\/span> at which the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> is <span class=\"dictionary\">enrolled<\/span> or at which the agent has reasonable grounds to believe the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span> intends to enroll, not later than 72 hours after giving the thing of value and (ii) the <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> acknowledges to the agent in a <span class=\"dictionary\">record<\/span> that receipt of the thing of value may result in loss of the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>&#8217;s sport; <a id=\"paragraph-227934\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> Initiate contact, directly or indirectly, with 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> to <span class=\"dictionary\">recruit or solicit<\/span> the <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> to enter an <span class=\"dictionary\">agency contract<\/span> unless registered under this chapter; <a id=\"paragraph-227935\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> Fail to create, retain, or permit inspection of the <span class=\"dictionary\">records<\/span> required by &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Required records\" href=\"\/54.1-537\/\">54.1-537<\/a>; <a id=\"paragraph-227936\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"5\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">5.<\/span> Fail to register when required by &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Athlete agent; registration required; void contract\" href=\"\/54.1-528\/\">54.1-528<\/a>; <a id=\"paragraph-227937\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#5\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"6\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">6.<\/span> Provide materially false or misleading information in an application for <span class=\"dictionary\">registration<\/span> or renewal of <span class=\"dictionary\">registration<\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-227938\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#6\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"7\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">7.<\/span> Predate or postdate an <span class=\"dictionary\">agency contract<\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-227939\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#7\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"8\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">8.<\/span> Fail to notify 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> before the <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> signs an <span class=\"dictionary\">agency contract<\/span> for a particular sport that the signing may result in loss of the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the <span class=\"dictionary\">student-athlete<\/span>&#8217;s sport; <a id=\"paragraph-227940\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#8\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"9\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">9.<\/span> Encourage another individual to do any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent; or <a id=\"paragraph-227941\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#9\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"10\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">10.<\/span> Encourage another individual to assist any other individual in doing any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent. <a id=\"paragraph-227942\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/54.1-538\/#10\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITED CONDUCT (\u00a7 54.1-538)\n\nAn athlete agent may not intentionally:\n\n1. Give a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or\nguardian of the student-athlete materially false or misleading information or\nmake a materially false promise or representation with the intent to influence\nthe student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian\nof the student-athlete to enter into an agency contract;\n\n2. Furnish anything of value to a student-athlete or another individual, if to\ndo so may result in loss of the student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to\nparticipate in the student-athlete&#8217;s sport, unless (i) the agent notifies\nthe athletic director of the educational institution at which the\nstudent-athlete is enrolled or at which the agent has reasonable grounds to\nbelieve the student-athlete intends to enroll, not later than 72 hours after\ngiving the thing of value and (ii) the student-athlete or, if the\nstudent-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete\nacknowledges to the agent in a record that receipt of the thing of value may\nresult in loss of the student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the\nstudent-athlete&#8217;s sport;\n\n3. Initiate contact, directly or indirectly, with a student-athlete or, if the\nstudent-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to\nrecruit or solicit the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a\nparent or guardian of the student-athlete to enter an agency contract unless\nregistered under this chapter;\n\n4. Fail to create, retain, or permit inspection of the records required by\n&#xA7; 54.1-537;\n\n5. Fail to register when required by &#xA7; 54.1-528;\n\n6. Provide materially false or misleading information in an application for\nregistration or renewal of registration;\n\n7. Predate or postdate an agency contract;\n\n8. Fail to notify a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a\nparent or guardian of the student-athlete before the student-athlete or, if the\nstudent-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete signs an\nagency contract for a particular sport that the signing may result in loss of\nthe student-athlete&#8217;s eligibility to participate in the\nstudent-athlete&#8217;s sport;\n\n9. Encourage another individual to do any of the acts described in subdivisions\n1 through 8 on behalf of the agent; or\n\n10. Encourage another individual to assist any other individual in doing any of\nthe acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 481, \u00a7 54.1-531.","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}}