The business of sport

Thinking beyond the playing field means asking the right questions, surrounding yourself with the right people and aligning with brands that resonate with your core values

- Thobeka Phanyeko

APPROACHING YOUR SPORTS CAREER as a business is a good idea if you want to ensure longevity in the industry. It’ll also set you up for a successful career right up to retirement. Have you considered the role of an agent or manager, for example?

Commercial law specialist and founder of Morgan Law Grant Morgan explains that depending on the sporting code (individual or team), the mandate of an agent or manager may differ in that it’s either limited to sport-specific activities or both sport and commercial activities.

‘In team sports, the manager takes care of duties such as coordinating fixtures, travel and accommodation logistics, and managing the support team, such as fitness trainers, physiotherapists and nutritionists. An athlete’s personal manager, however, focusses on commercial aspects.’

GQ: What commercial aspects does a personal manager cover?