I am proud to mark the second anniversary of Connecticut Sports Law. The blog continues to exceed my expectations from its launch two short years ago. To all Connecticut Sports Law readers and supporters, we thank you for your support. This group includes my wife, family, friends and my employer, Updike, Kelly & Spellacy. The past year brought [...]
Talk to My Lawyer: 3 Situations Requiring Counsel in Collegiate Athletics
November 4, 2009 By 6 Comments
1. National Letter of Intent (NLI): Despite the fact that the NLI is optional and heavily favors colleges and universities, student-athletes continue to sign on the dotted line. It’s basically a take it or leave it proposition, and few players are willing to risk leaving a scholarship offer on the table. Some coaches, like Kentucky’s John Calipari, have [...]
Friday Night Rights: Kentucky High School Coach Acquitted
September 18, 2009 By 1 Comment
In the first reported criminal case brought against a coach in connection with a player’s on-field death, high school football coach Jason Stinson was found not guilty of reckless homicide and wanton endangerment in connection with the death of Max Gilpin. The jury needed 90 minutes to reach its verdict. Despite the testimony of several experts that Gilpin [...]
Kentucky High School Football Coach Found Not Guilty in Death of Player
September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
CNN reports that Kentucky High School Football Coach Jason Stinson was found not guilty by a jury on charges arising from the death of one of his players, Max Gilpin. More analysis to follow. For more on this case, see the following Connecticut Sports Law posts: Friday Night Rights: Trial of Coach in Player’s Death [...]
Friday Night Rights: Cablevision Launches High School Sports Channel
September 14, 2009 By 4 Comments
Cablevision has provided the latest example of the business of sports infiltrating high school athletics. The cable provider will launch “MSG Varsity,” which will feature coverage of high school athletics in 4 areas: Long Island, Brooklyn/Bronx, Connecticut/Westchester/Hudson Valley and New Jersey. A website, MSGVarsity.com, is also planned. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of MSG Varsity [...]
Friday Night Rights: Trial of Coach in Player’s Death May Change High School Athletics
August 31, 2009 By 6 Comments
Michael McCann of Sports Law Blog and SI.com, has an interesting piece on Commonwealth of Kentucky v. David Jason Stinson, in which former high school football coach Jason Stinson is set to begin trial today in connection with the death of one of his players during practice. McCann writes that this case – in which Stinson faces felony [...]
Friday Night Rights: Recruiting and Specialization in High School Athletics
July 31, 2009 By 2 Comments
Here is Part II of my interview with Natick High School Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Tom Lamb, which covers recruiting and specialization, as well as the involvement of the legal system in high school athletics. Click here to see Part I of the interview with the Hall of Fame coach, which discussed advertising [...]
Friday Night Rights: Advertising and Title IX in High School Athletics
July 30, 2009 By 8 Comments
I recently had the chance to speak with Tom Lamb, the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Natick (Mass.) High School. Coach Lamb is a member of the Massachusetts Football Hall of Fame and in 2005 became only the 28th coach in Massachusetts history to win 200 football games. Coaching at Natick from 1977-90, Lamb [...]
