Abstract National employment and labour relations law, the economic conditions
in which a competition is organized, a sport’s regulatory framework and the bargaining
power of a player, club, team or federation determine the form and content
of working conditions in a professional team sports competition. A team sports
competition has some unique features that are reflected in the term and conditions
of an athlete’s employment and are not ordinarily seen in other industries. This
chapter outlines the special nature of an employment contract and the employment
and labour relations laws in the United Kingdom, the United States of America
and the European Union that form the framework in which professional athletes in
the Premier League, the NBA and rugby union are employed. It canvasses the economic
features of a team sports competition and outlines the regulatory framework
of some sports that can also influence the final form of a player’s employment
arrangements. The chapter introduces the specific features of an athlete’s working
conditions that will be the subject of further discussion throughout this book.