Legal Definitions - Sports law

Sports Law is a field of law that deals with legal issues related to sports. It covers a wide range of areas such as antitrust, contracts, and torts. Sports Law can be divided into three main areas: amateur, professional, and international sports.

Amateur sports include a range of activities from casual weekend athletes to high school athletics to organized intercollegiate or international competitions. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the governing body for intercollegiate sports in the United States. Colleges and universities that receive federal aid are also subject toTitle IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in their athletic programs.

The relationship between the individual player and the team owner is the most important in professional sports. This contractual relationship is governed by basic contract principles. Most sports leagues now have a Standard Player's Contract which serves as a model employment contract between players and owners. Antitrust issues have been particularly important to professional sports leagues.

The two major international sports competitions are the Olympics, sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, and the World Cup, sponsored by FIFA. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has charge over Olympic and other related competitions to which the United States sends a team.

Overall, Sports Law is a complex field that involves many different legal issues. It is important for athletes, coaches, and sports organizations to understand the legal implications of their actions and decisions.