Code of conduct

1.Be honest

• Tell families and programs the truth, including when the news is hard.
• Describe your experience, connections and certification accurately.
• Never promise a roster spot, scholarship, college commitment or draft outcome.

2.Put your role in writing

• Document every advisor relationship in a written agreement that states plainly that you are an advisor, not an agent or representative. Certified advisors receive a standard agreement template.
• As an advisor, never negotiate a contract on a player's behalf.
• If you are also a sports agent, tell the family in writing, keep the two roles separate, and follow your state's athlete-agent laws, including registering where required.

3.Charge fair, transparent fees

• Charge a flat fee at a fair market rate and explain it before you start.
• Never tie your fee to a player's future earnings, contract, scholarship or outcome.

4.Disclose conflicts and referral fees

• Tell families, in writing, about any referral relationship or payment you have with a program, showcase, camp, school or agent, even when no rule requires it.
• Recommend what's best for the player, not what pays you.

5.No gifts or improper benefits

Don't give players or families gifts, meals, travel, equipment or free services. They create conflicts of interest and can raise NCAA benefit issues.

6.Respect the family's decisions

• The player and family decide. Give them the options and the facts, not pressure.
• Approach families professionally: no pressure tactics, and no contacting players in ways that break league or NCAA rules.

7.Stay current and compliant

Keep up with changes to pathways and to NCAA, league, NIL and state rules, and complete any updated training the Board requires at renewal.

8.Protect families' information

Keep what families tell you private. Share it only with their permission and only for their benefit.

9.Be accountable to the Board

• Tell the Board within 30 days if you register as a sports agent, are sanctioned by a league or governing body, or face legal action related to your work with athletes.
• Cooperate with any review of a complaint.
• Use the certification stamp and ID only as described in your certification kit.

10.Raising a concern

Parents, players and advisors can report a concern about a certified advisor to hello@sportsadvisorsboard.com. How the Board reviews concerns, and what can follow, is set out in the certification policies.