Rules of the Game

Sports law is an ever-growing field that requires constant updates, analyses, and research. Rules of the Game: Sports Law provides the most up-to-date information on hot-button issues such as crime in sports—including sexual harassment and assault both on college campuses and in private homes—sports litigation—especially pertaining to concussions—and publicity, privacy, and defamation rights of the athlete in today’s social media-crazed world where reputations can be destroyed in an instant.

Rules of the Game is an engaging and informative book written by one of the leading authorities in the field. Michael E. Jones offers readers the basics—such as how contracts are formed, the rights of athletes, labor laws, the NCAA, and copyright and trademark laws—but also covers much more. Jones discusses such essential topics as gender equity in sports, performance enhancing drugs and testing, international competition, and sports liability. The growth of multi-million and even billion dollar sports franchises requires enhanced professionalism in the area of negotiating sports and endorsement contracts, and the major players in the sports agency field are covered in full.

Rules of the Game contains appendixes that offer valuable resources, including a sample drug testing consent form, a standard player contract from the NFL, and a National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) representation contract. With key words and discussion questions at the end of each chapter, this book is a comprehensive yet highly readable text for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Author Biography

Michael E. Jones teaches art, sport and media law at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Jones began as an agent for professional athletes and TV celebrities and went on to co-create the Association of Representatives of Professional Athletes, which was later assigned to the NFL Players Association. Jones was the first Chairperson of the American Bar Association’s International Forum Committee on Sports and Entertainment Law. He helped to write the first collective bargaining agreement for soccer in the US and has penned more than thirty law review articles. His books include Sports Law and Intellectual Property Law Fundamentals.