UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS - SPORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM *
Isenberg School of Management
SPORTMGT 635 – SPORT AND THE LAW
FALL 2005
ROOM: ISOM TBA
CLASS MEETINGS:
Monday & Wednesday 1:10-2:40 PM
Tuesday & Thursday 1:00-2:15 PM
E-Mail: gwong@sportmgt.umass.edu
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Glenn M. Wong
OFFICE: ISOM Building, Room 236N
MAILBOX: ISOM Building, Room 230
PHONE/VOICEMAIL: (413) 545-5053
OFFICE HOURS:
From Sept. 1 to Oct. 21- Mon. 2:30-4:00;
Fri- 1:00-2:30. Wed. from 2:30-4 if there are
schedule conflicts. From Oct. 24 to Dec. 23- Tues.
and Th- 1:00-2:15; Fri. 1-2:15 if there are schedule
conflicts
I. COURSE MATERIALS
REQUIRED
 G.M. Wong, Essentials of Sports Law, Third Edition, 2002 (Available at the Textbook Annex 413545-3570, amazon.com, or bn.com). If buying a used book, please make sure you purchase the
third edition
 Class web site-URL http://courses.umass.edu/splaw635
II. GOALS OF THE COURSE
The goals of the course are 1) to allow the student to better understand the law, in general (not limited
to sports law), 2) to provide the student with a basic knowledge and understanding of the law as it
applies to amateur and professional sports, 3) to enable the student to identify, analyze and
understand legal issues, and to discuss the ramifications of those issues 4) to provide the student with
a foundation of comprehensive information that is relevant to managers in the sports industry, and 5) to
assist the student in learning where to go to find sports law information.
III. TOPICS & READINGS (Tentative)
Topics
1. Court and Legal System in the United States
2. Introduction to Sports Law and Sport Industry
3. Tort Liability
4. Contract Law
5. Antitrust Law
6. Labor Law
7. Athletic Associations
8. The Athlete and Constitutional Law
9. Gender Discrimination in Athletics
10. Drug Testing and Policies
11. Intellectual Property Law
Readings
Essentials, Ch. 2
Essentials, Ch. 1
Essentials, Ch. 3 & 4
Essentials, Ch. 9
Essentials, Ch. 10
Essentials, Ch. 11
Essentials, Ch. 5
Essentials, Ch. 6
Essentials, Ch. 8
Essentials, Ch. 7
Essentials, Ch.13
IV. GENERAL COURSE POLICIES
CLASS PREPARATION
The student will get the most out of class meetings by reading and understanding the assigned
materials before class. For several of the chapters, questions will be provided for the students to
answer. Students should also re-read the relevant course materials after they have been covered in
class. Students should also review their class notes at this time. If there are still areas and/or issues
that are not clear, students are encouraged to email Professor Wong with questions. He will attempt to
answer these questions in the next class. Students are encouraged to work with other students and
form study groups. It is important to note that study groups should focus on checking one’s work and
one’s understanding of the cases, and that study groups are not a substitute for reading the cases and
briefing the cases.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
Class participation is encouraged in every possible manner. Attendance is not participation. The
student is introduced to the case method of training in problem solving. This is important because law
is based on the case method. Each student will make at least one class presentation on Current Legal
Issues (a handout will be provided detailing this assignment). Each student should be prepared to
contribute to class discussion in each class.
EXAMINATIONS
Two midterm examinations will be scheduled during regularly scheduled class periods. The final
examination is scheduled for Monday, October 24, 2005. All final examinations must be taken during
the scheduled examination time. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED. All exams will be closed
book.
Examinable Material - all assigned readings, lectures (including guest lecturers) and class discussions
are examinable material, unless explicitly excluded.
LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT
CASE STUDIES
V.
GRADING
Class Participation, assignments, attendance and current legal issues
1st Exam
2nd Exam
Final (Cumulative)
NOTE: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Action will be taken against students
committing academic dishonesty in accordance with the procedures in the 2005-6
Undergraduate Rights and Responsibilities Handbook or
http://www.umass.edu/umhome/policies/honesty.html
20%
20%
25%
35%
100%
VI. CLASS MEETINGS AND CONTENT OUTLINE (TENTATIVE)
Class # Day, Date
Topic
1
Wed., Sept. 7
Court System; Introduction to Sports Law
2
Thu., Sept. 8
Court System; Torts
3
Mon., Sept. 12
Torts
4
Tue., Sept. 13
Torts
5
Wed., Sept. 14
Torts
6
Thu., Sept. 15
Contract Law
7
Mon., Sept. 19
Contract Law
8
Tue., Sept. 20
Contract Law
9
Wed., Sept 21
Exam #1
10
Thu., Sept 22
Antitrust Law
11
Mon., Sept 26
Antitrust Law
12
Tue., Sept. 27
Labor Law
13
Wed., Sept. 28
Labor Law
14
Thu., Sept 29
Athletic Associations
15
Mon., Oct 3
Athletic Associations
16
Tue., Oct. 4
The Athlete and Constitutional Law
17
Wed., Oct. 5
The Athlete and Constitutional Law
18
Thu., Oct. 6
Exam #2
19
Tue., Oct. 11
Drug Testing
20
Wed., Oct. 12
Drug Testing
21
Thu., Oct. 13
Gender Discrimination
22
Mon., Oct. 17
Gender Discrimination
23
Tue., Oct. 18
Intellectual Property
24
Wed., Oct. 19
Agency Law
25
Thur., Oct. 20
Employment Law
26
Mon., Oct. 24
Final Exam
NOTE: 2-3 Speakers will be scheduled either during a regularly scheduled class time or at another
time. Total classroom hours will be 33 (not including the final exam). A library session will be
added.
COPYRIGHT
Many of the materials created for this course are the intellectual property of the instructor. This
includes, but is not limited to, the syllabus, lectures and course notes. Except to the extent not
protected by copyright law, any use, distribution or sale of such materials requires the permission of
the instructor. Please be aware that it is a violation of university policy to reproduce, for distribution or
sale, class lectures or class notes, unless copyright has been explicitly waived by the faculty member.
*As of July 21, 2005