LCSPA, AVPA Launch Agent Certification Program

LCSPA and AVPA announced the launch of the agent certification program with the blessings of Riot Games

The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) and the Americas Valorant Players Association (AVPA) announced Thursday the official launch of an agent certification and regulation program.

The new program covers agents representing professional players/aspiring professional players in the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) and Valorant Champions Tour Americas (VCT Americas) leagues.

At the heart of the new program is a database for players to find an agent or lawyer that can provide “trustworthy, industry experienced representation options.” Those listed in the database are “trustworthy” in the eyes of the LCSPA/AVPA (and by extension Riot) because they have applied for and received certification following a vetting process and agreeing to abide by guidelines put forth by the players associations.

In addition to providing information on what players they currently representing, applicants agree to a background check by the LCSPA and AVPA and to pay a membership fee of $250 USD in advance. Similarly, attorneys can apply for a “non-agent legal professionals” listing in the database (and agree to adhere to the same guidelines as agents). Around $150 of that fee is for the background check, while the remainder is used to operate the program.

Applicants are required to provide information on the players they represent in either league as well as all players, coaches, and talent represented that are not part of the Riot league ecosystem (LCS, NACL, VCT Americas, VCT Americas Challenger, and VCT Game Changers). In addition, maintaining certification status requires “at least one active client competing or aspiring to compete in the LCS, NACL, Americas VCT, VCT Game Changers, or America VCT Challenger leagues.”

Agents and attorneys listed in the database also agree to do their best to avoid any potential conflicts of interest and put the needs of their clients (players) first. A conflict of interest could be having a financial interest with a team, a publisher, another player, or any other business that could get in the way of representing the client. The program requires agents to disclose conflicts or to address any conflict identified by the PA related to their currently represented talent; it also allows them to exit agreements at no penalty.

LCSPA Executive Director Phil Aram told The Esports Advocate this week that these rules are “built off of the MLBPA rules with revision work from former NBPA council,” meaning that most of the mechanics “are derived from procedures that exist in one or both of their programs.”

Aram also told TEA that the program is supported by Riot Games, though the owner of the LCS and VCT Americas leagues is in no way funding the new initiative:

“We’re excited that the program means teams will be required by Riot to recommend players get representation from our certified agent list, and the agents we certify will be agreeing to adhere to the same high standards required of traditional sports agents.”

The LCSPA/AVPA acknowledge that the Certified Agent Database is not a comprehensive list of representation options and players are not bound to use it (it is not mandatory for either agents or players); they can seek representation where they like as before, but the listed agents have agreed to oversight by the LCSPA/AVPA, which means that—if an issue arises—the PAs can serve as an intermediary for both parties.

Aram tells us that Riot is supporting the program for a number of reasons including the fact that it ensures that teams follow league rules that they provide the “you should get representation” messaging to players before negotiating contracts, and agents within the system abide by league rules as well.