{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/54.1-538.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/54.1-538.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/54.1-538.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/54.1-538.html"}],"law_id":369102,"edition_id":2,"section_id":369102,"structure_id":52588,"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;\n\n2\n\nFurnish anything of value to a student-athlete or another individual, if to do so may result in loss of the student-athlete’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete’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’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete’s sport;\n\n3\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;\n\n4\n\nFail to create, retain, or permit inspection of the records required by § 54.1-537;\n\n5\n\nFail to register when required by § 54.1-528;\n\n6\n\nProvide materially false or misleading information in an application for registration or renewal of registration;\n\n7\n\nPredate or postdate an agency contract;\n\n8\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’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete’s sport;\n\n9\n\nEncourage another individual to do any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent; or\n\n10\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.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1376390,"text":"An athlete agent may not intentionally:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":1376391,"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":1376392,"text":"Furnish anything of value to a student-athlete or another individual, if to do so may result in loss of the student-athlete’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete’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’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete’s sport;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":1376393,"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":1376394,"text":"Fail to create, retain, or permit inspection of the records required by § 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":1376395,"text":"Fail to register when required by § 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":1376396,"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":1376397,"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":1376398,"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’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete’s sport;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":1376399,"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":1376400,"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":52588,"edition_id":2,"name":"Athlete Agents","identifier":"5.2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":5,"parent_id":52439,"metadata":{"child_laws":17,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:54","permalink":{"id":1467763,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52588,"identifier":"5.2","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2","url":"\/54.1\/II\/5.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52439,"edition_id":2,"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":2,"parent_id":52436,"metadata":{"child_laws":392,"child_structures":60},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:52","permalink":{"id":1466417,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52439,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52436,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":118,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1282,"child_structures":163},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:51","permalink":{"id":1466315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52436,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":369090,"structure_id":52588,"section_number":"54.1-526","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-526\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-526","metadata":false},{"id":369091,"structure_id":52588,"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":369092,"structure_id":52588,"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":369093,"structure_id":52588,"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":369094,"structure_id":52588,"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":369095,"structure_id":52588,"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":369096,"structure_id":52588,"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":369097,"structure_id":52588,"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":369098,"structure_id":52588,"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":369099,"structure_id":52588,"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":369100,"structure_id":52588,"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":369101,"structure_id":52588,"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":369102,"structure_id":52588,"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":369103,"structure_id":52588,"section_number":"54.1-539","catch_line":"Criminal penalty","url":"\/54.1-539\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-539","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":369104,"structure_id":52588,"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":369105,"structure_id":52588,"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":369106,"structure_id":52588,"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":369101,"structure_id":52588,"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":369103,"structure_id":52588,"section_number":"54.1-539","catch_line":"Criminal penalty","url":"\/54.1-539\/","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-539","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-538\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 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":369094,"section_number":"54.1-530","catch_line":"Certificate of registration; issuance or denials; renewal","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-530\/"},{"id":369103,"section_number":"54.1-539","catch_line":"Criminal penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-539\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":369092,"section_number":"54.1-528","catch_line":"Athlete agent; registration required; void contract","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-528\/"},{"id":369101,"section_number":"54.1-537","catch_line":"Required records","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-537\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1467813,"object_type":"law","relational_id":369102,"identifier":"54.1-538","token":"54.1\/II\/5.2\/54.1-538","url":"\/54.1-538\/","edition_id":2,"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

An athlete agent<\/span> may not intentionally:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Give a student-athlete<\/span> or, if the student-athlete<\/span> is a minor<\/span>, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete<\/span> materially false or misleading information or make a materially false promise or representation with the intent<\/span> to influence the student-athlete<\/span> or, if the student-athlete<\/span> is a minor<\/span>, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete<\/span> to enter into an agency contract<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Furnish anything of value to a student-athlete<\/span> or another individual, if to do so may result in loss of the student-athlete<\/span>’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete<\/span>’s sport, unless (i) the agent notifies the athletic director<\/span> of the educational institution<\/span> at which the student-athlete<\/span> is enrolled<\/span> or at which the agent has reasonable grounds to believe the student-athlete<\/span> intends to enroll, not later than 72 hours after giving the thing of value and (ii) the student-athlete<\/span> or, if the student-athlete<\/span> is a minor<\/span>, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete<\/span> acknowledges to the agent in a record<\/span> that receipt of the thing of value may result in loss of the student-athlete<\/span>’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete<\/span>’s sport; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Initiate contact, directly or indirectly, with a student-athlete<\/span> or, if the student-athlete<\/span> is a minor<\/span>, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete<\/span> to recruit or solicit<\/span> the student-athlete<\/span> or, if the student-athlete<\/span> is a minor<\/span>, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete<\/span> to enter an agency contract<\/span> unless registered under this chapter; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Fail to create, retain, or permit inspection of the records<\/span> required by § 54.1-537<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Fail to register when required by § 54.1-528<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Provide materially false or misleading information in an application for registration<\/span> or renewal of registration<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Predate or postdate an agency contract<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Fail to notify a student-athlete<\/span> or, if the student-athlete<\/span> is a minor<\/span>, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete<\/span> before the student-athlete<\/span> or, if the student-athlete<\/span> is a minor<\/span>, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete<\/span> signs an agency contract<\/span> for a particular sport that the signing may result in loss of the student-athlete<\/span>’s eligibility to participate in the student-athlete<\/span>’s sport; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Encourage another individual to do any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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. <\/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’s eligibility to\nparticipate in the student-athlete’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’s eligibility to participate in the\nstudent-athlete’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§ 54.1-537;\n\n5. Fail to register when required by § 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’s eligibility to participate in the\nstudent-athlete’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":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}