Wednesday night, we hosted our fifth Zoom session for the 2022 NFL Agent Class. I spent the first hour discussing the vagaries of training: what to ask for, how to avoid costly add-ons, what you can expect from your client during his training period, and plenty more.

However, rather than just telling you about it, I decided to provide it at no cost here. Pass code is @N+GZD1g.

Here’s a look at our outline from Wednesday:

COMBINE PREP vs. PRO DAY PREP

• Combine prep is for combine invitees, starts first Monday of January
• Pro Day Prep is for non-combine invitees, typically starts mid- to late January
• Your first job when you sign a client is to find out when his pro day is
• If he doesn’t know, we have a record of pro day dates for most schools going back five years
• You may have to start your client for pro day training same time as combine prep
• Every trainer should have combine prep/pro day rep options
• Pro day prep should be cheaper, offer fewer bells and whistles

COST OF TRAINING

• Usually $500 to $1000 per week
• Most training terms are eight weeks; most trainers allow trainees to return post-pro day free
• All-star week money is not usually refunded
• Most trainers offer all-inclusive packages but not automatically
• Residence is where costs have gone sky-high, especially in southern markets (can exceed training cost); if your client will train from home or stay at school, that’s a big win
• Food is also not included, though this is not usually super expensive (food costs usually go M-F, sometimes M-S, but not Sunday)
• There are other massages, cold treatments, and extra services that are often a la carte; important to make sure the trainer knows you must authorize them
• Typically, a trainer will ask for half up front and half upon completion
• At times, trainers will look to make deals based on where the player goes in the draft (risers cost extra)

TRAINING AND YOUR CLIENT

• If you’re not around to monitor, your client may take days off; trainers don’t often hold players accountable
• There is lots of down time; make sure your client is prepared for that (weekends, most gyms don’t train)
• He may see others leaving on weekends, etc.; he may ask for tickets to fly home, etc.
• Also, players will compare their “deals” with their agents, so be ready for your client to come around asking for extras

SCHOOL vs. TRAINING FACILITY

• Only in last decade have Day 3/UDFA prospects felt like they could dictate training
• You will have to steer your client to affordable training
• Most players want to train somewhere other than their school (distractions, etc.)
• If you DO convince your client to train at school, plan on making at least some financial consideration

WHAT IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD TRAINING?

• Consider some kind of stipend – give the player a small amount with his option on how to spend it
• This tends to keep the player happy and may pay dividends later

POSITION-SPECIFIC TRAINING

• Combine training typically addresses speed and strength
• Many trainers are now offering position-specific training, as well (very hot right now)
• This is an additional cost; make sure you know costs before beginning
• Especially helpful before your client attends an all-star game.

THE TRAINING RIDER

• This is probably the most important point of this session
• You must protect yourself if you’re going to cover training
• The training rider is not part of the SRA; you must submit it separately
• Most training riders are proprietary
• A standard rider mandates that the player must pay back his training fees if he fires the agent before signing an NFL contract.
• This must be submitted to the NFLPA with the SRA.

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