Over the past few years, BSELS contributor, Joe Schafer (@jwschafe), has reported on the NCAA's long history of inequitable and questionable conduct. Yesterday marked another example of that inequitable conduct. Yesterday, March 18, University of Oregon Women's Basketball player, Sedona Prince, used social media to reveal the glaring discrepancy between the men's and women's weight... Continue Reading →
Elite Eligibility and The Ivy League: How The Ivy League Has Handled COVID-19 and Student-Athlete Eligibility
Imagine having last year's sports season taken away from you. Not because of an injury or insufficient grade point average, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Heartbreaking. Now, imagine having it taken away for a second time in less than a year. Absolutely defeating. That's what happened to Ivy League winter and spring sports. The... Continue Reading →
The Legality Behind the PLL/MLL “Merger” & Antitrust Concerns
On December 16, 2020, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced a merger with Major League Lacrosse (MLL). Under this agreement, the leagues will operate as one under the "PLL" brand and model. This did not come as a shock to those in the lacrosse world. Since September 2018, when co-founders Paul and Mike Rabil created... Continue Reading →
BSELS Celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day: Bridget Niland, Holly Cercone and Ashley O’Brien
Lastly, we have Bridget Niland, Holly Cercone (mother of BSELS President, @jakecercone) and Ashley O'Brien. Thank you to these three women, and the previous women, for taking time to answer my questions and reflect on their athletic journeys. We, as a society, still have a long way to go in terms of equality for women... Continue Reading →
BSELS Celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports: Kristen Spulecki & Emily Renna
As I wrote yesterday, BSELS is celebrating NGWSD by spotlighting female sports figures in the community and sharing their stories. Today, we are recognizing Kristen Spulecki & Emily Renna. Kristen Spulecki What do you do for a living? I am an attorney. What sport(s) did you play and what was the highest level you played... Continue Reading →
BSELS Celebrates National Girls & Women In Sports: Nellie Drew & Kathy Twist
Photo Credit: Chatham University Athletics National Girls & Women in Sports Day is an annual day of observance held during the first week of February to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, recognize the influence of sports participation for women and girls, and honor the progress and continuing struggle for equality for women in sports.... Continue Reading →
SCOTUS Agrees to Hear NCAA Athlete Compensation Case
Photo Credit: unafraidshow.com On December 16, 2020, the Supreme Court announced that it will hear an appeal from the NCAA and eleven of its top-level conferences in a case that challenges the Association's restriction on student-athlete compensation. In 2021, the high court will decide whether the NCAA's rules which limit athlete compensation to scholarships is... Continue Reading →
Commonality of Wrongful Death Suits in High School Athletics
Photo Credit: Davis Law Group High school sports are paramount to many teenagers and can be a great way for students to get exercise, learn valuable life skills, and build friendships. However, if these high school student athletes are pushed too hard or are placed in risky situations, the results can quite literally be deadly.... Continue Reading →
“Bubbleville” is Coming to NCAA College Basketball
Two days ago, the NCAA announced that it plans to move the entire 68-team men's basketball tournament to one city in 2021, as opposed to the 13 predetermined preliminary round sites. The decision came after it became apparent to the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee that conducting the championship at the preliminary round sites, which... Continue Reading →
COVID-19 Insurance for College Athletic Programs: Will Your School Buy In?
Photo Credit: The Tenneseean On October 23, ESPN reported that a prominent insurance broker is rolling out a policy which would provide coverage to college athletic departments if their student-athletes are hospitalized due to COVID-19. The policy is only available to NCAA-member schools (meaning junior colleges and NAIA schools are excluded) and they have until... Continue Reading →