The programme will be delivered from the Loughborough campus over three weekends, with the first cohort running from October to December 2019.
The course initially launched in London last year as a 10-week programme delivered from Loughborough University London, and after a number of successful cohorts and in response to demand, it is now being offered in a weekend format in Loughborough. The weekend programme aims to provide an alternative to people from different areas of the country and who are not able to attend a session each week in London.
Endorsed by the Association of Football Agents (AFA) and accredited by CPD UK, the programme is aimed at anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of the area, with participants learning about the legal and practical workings of what it takes to succeed in the business.
The programme is based on three core pillars of the agency profession and market:
Regulatory frameworks
Covering legal frameworks governing agents in different sports and explaining how to comply with the regulation
Contemporary legal issues
Analysing a range of issues including player/athlete representation and contracts, dealing with minors, financial crime and corruption in the transfer market, and how to deal with them
Business practices
Explaining the practicalities of being an agent including negotiating transfers, approaching clubs, managing parents, understanding the psychology of players, and expanding a professional network
Course leader and former agent Dr Serhat Yilmaz, of Loughborough’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, said: “The programme intends to raise the professional standard of the agent market through education.
“The number of agents within the sport industry has significantly increased over the years, but there is still a lack of constructive initiatives helping them to develop and maintain knowledge and skills to operate in a very dynamic and international transfer market.
“The programme fills this gap and is staffed by some of the industry’s most experienced legal practitioners and serving professionals.”
There are no formal academic prerequisites for the programme, however, some business experience and numerical proficiency are recommended.
Further information on the course and how to apply can be found here