When you get a sponsorship you have certain responsibilities that you didn’t have before you signed the deal. The company that signed you expects you to represent their company on a very professional level.
Depending on the type of sponsorship offer and the company that you sign with there will be different expectations.
On an entry level sponsorship your duties will be lower than on a national level. Each sponsor will expect different things. For example, an entry level sponsorship deal may require you to do contests and races in your area, but won’t expect you to attend large national competitions.
Larger sponsorship deals demand a lot more from you personally and professionally. If you have a large national sponsorship your ability should reflect the sponsorship. You will have to keep up with the level of other athletes in your ability range. You must keep in shape and train hard. You must always have a drive to progress yourself as an athlete.
Attitude is a key to being successful in the eyes of fans and sponsors. Sponsors expect you to act in a professional and courteous manor whether you are competing or just walking down the street. You are a walking billboard for their company so keep that in mind. If you are nice to fans they will remember it and potentially buy your sponsors' products. If you are not kind, it will reflect negatively on your sponsor, which could lead to an early termination of your contract.
Willingness to do things that your sponsor requires is a key element in achieving a stronger relationship with them. Once you sign on with a sponsor they may give you a list of obligations to fulfill. These could be simple like sticker placement and may increase to things such as store signings and providing national recognition through media properties and public appearances.
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