Splinters from the Bench: Feasibility of Lawsuits by Athletes Against Coaches and Schools for Lack of Playing Time

Abstract:     
In light of the ever increasing costs of education, as well as the increasing amount of compensation being given to professional athletes, the amount of pressure put on young athletes to perform at a high level is tremendous. ... To allow collegiate coaching staffs adequate opportunity to scout and compile statistics on player performance, the student-athlete must be given a certain amount of playing time in his or her respective sport - the more playing time on the field or court, the better opportunity coaching staffs have to evaluate the athlete. ... While courts have generally not recognized a proprietary interest in extracurricular athletic participation, one athlete, swimmer Joscelin Yeo, sought protection of her interest in playing time based on a reputational interest she had achieved through prior competition. ... Therefore, it seems possible that there may be a viable cause of action against a coach and school for limiting a student-athlete's playing time if it can be established that the student-athlete had a valuable athletic reputation. ... " The rise in complaints that Ferraro has seen may be attributed to the rise in compensation given to athletes in the form of athletic scholarships (as educational costs rise), professional athlete salaries, and the possibilities for extra-sport income once professional status is obtained (i.e. product endorsement), generating pressure to achieve the prize. ...

Number of Pages in PDF File: 28

Keywords: Education, athletes, professional athletes, pressure, young athletes, high school, collegiate, coaches, coah, parent, parents, simming, prize, pscholarships, atheltic scholarship, scholarship, income, complaints, compensation

Accepted Paper Series