FAIR Sports arbitration offers a streamlined, confidential alternative to litigation when a contract dispute cannot be mediated. It’s utilized to resolve disputes between parties in revenue-sharing contracts between schools and student-athletes, NIL contracts between student-athletes and brands and agent contracts between student-athletes and their representatives.

FAIR Sports arbitration hearings keep disputes out of the courts by utilizing experienced arbitrators with specialized knowledge of college athletics to issue final, binding decisions that bring closure and avoid lengthy appeals.

• Teams must consist of 2-3 students from the same university or college and may consist of law students, graduate students from non-law programs or a combination of law and graduate students.
• All competition will take place on Zoom. (No travel required - all remote competition).
• All participants receive a competition T-shirt.
• Trophies are awarded for first place, second place and semifinalists in the hearing competition and first through third place in the writing competition.
• A panel of college athletics officials and attorneys will network with participants, discuss career paths and answer questions at the conclusion of the first day of competition.
• Each team is guaranteed a minimum of two mock arbitration hearings (one as counsel representing a school, one as counsel representing a student-athlete)
• Teams that advance from the first-round bracket will have one or two additional hearings in the semifinals and finals.
• Each team will write one brief.
• The mock case file and guidance for all competitors will be provided by January 1. Written brief will be due in late January. First-round hearings and educational/networking panel will be over Zoom on February 19, 2027, with semifinal and final hearings over Zoom on February 20.
• Registration fee is only $230 for a 2-person team, $260 for a 3-person team.

Hearing Competition Champions: Stetson University College of Law (Laura Hutton and Lauren Suggs, coached by Tyler Goldberg, Blake Radford, and Professor Jim Sheehan)  

Hearing, 2nd Place: Stetson University College of Law (Camila Macchia and Victoria Heighton, coached by Tyler Goldberg, Blake Radford and Professor Jim Sheehan) 

Hearing Semifinalists: University of Iowa College of Law (Emma Anderegg, Madeleine Breunig and Lauren Keating, coached by Professor Dan Matheson) and Drake University Law School (Jakob Moses, Will Terry and Spencer Warfield, coached by Alex Crowl)

Writing Competition Co-Champions: 

• University of Iowa College of Law (George Hunt, Bryce Merges and Colin Ward, coached by Professor Dan Matheson)
• University of Iowa College of Law (Jackson Moseley, Mel Moseley, and Aaron Pap, coached by Professor Dan Matheson)

Writing, 3rd Place (tie): 

• Jacksonville University College of Law (Dalton Cates and Thomas Driggers, coaches by Professor Matthew Reiber)
• Florida International University College of Law (Mary Ann Shahid, Tyeese Gaines, and Christopher LeBoeuf, coached by Professor Margaret Brenan Correoso)

The National College Athletics Infractions Hearing Competition has welcomed teams from across the country, including representatives from the following institutions:

• Brooklyn Law School
• Creighton University School of Law
• Florida International University College of Law
• Georgia State University College of Law
• Gonzaga University School of Law
• Indiana University McKinney School of Law
• Jacksonville University College of Law
• Marquette University Law School
• New England Law
• Ohio University MSA/MBA Program
• Pace University School of Law
• Pepperdine University School of Law
• Samford University – Cumberland School of Law
• Santa Clara University School of Law
• Stetson University College of Law
• Tulane University Law School
• USC Gould School of Law
• University of Arkansas School of Law
• University of Houston Law Center
• University of Illinois College of Law
• University of Iowa College of Law
• University of Iowa Sport and Recreation Management Master's Program
• University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
• University of Miami School of Law
• University of Minnesota Law School
• University of Mississippi School of Law
• University of Missouri School of Law
• University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
• University of Oregon School of Law
• University of Tennessee Winston College of Law
• University of Virginia School of Law
• University of Wyoming College of Law
• Western State College of Law

All mock hearings and written materials are judged by college sports law and administration industry experts who are eager to provide guidance and insight to students. Previous competition judges, many of whom will be involved in future competitions, included:

• Matt Pottorff, J.D. – University of Akron Senior Deputy AD/Chief Operating Officer
• Ellen Ferris, J.D. – American Athletic Conference Senior Associate Commissioner (Governance and Compliance) and chair of the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee
• Jason Montgomery, J.D. – College athletics attorney, partner at Husch Blackwell
• Stephen Clar, J.D. – Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Elmira College , former NCAA Associate Director of Academic and Membership Services and staff liaison to the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committees
• Brian White, J.D. – Vice President and General Counsel, Wake Forest University
• Stephanie Hannah – NCAA Director of Enforcement
• Laura Wurtz McNab, J.D. – NCAA Associate Director of Business Performance Management
• Henry Archuleta, J.D. – Clemson University Associate AD/Governance and Football Compliance
• Libby Harmon, J.D. – College athletics attorney at Nevius Legal, former NCAA Associate Director of Enforcement
• Chris Gines, J.D. – Air Force Academy Associate AD for Compliance
• Marcus Wilson, J.D. – University of Iowa Executive Associate AD/Event Management and Sport Administration
• Bridget Niland, J.D. – Vice President for Academic Affairs, Canisius University former Daemen College Director of Athletics, former NCAA Associate Director and consultant
• Mike Zonder, J.D. – NCAA Director of Enforcement
• Paul Perrier, J.D. – Chief Sport Officer, Golf Canada, former University of Southern California Executive Associate AD/Competitive Excellence
• Brandi Guerinot – Niagara University Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives and former America East Conference Associate Commissioner, Compliance and Governance
• Andrea Dahly, J.D. – County attorney, former Bemidji State University Associate AD for Compliance
• Kyle Waterstone – Huron Consulting Group, Higher Education Manager – Strategy & Operations
• Dan Calandro – Retired, former NCAA Associate Director of Division III Governance and former Knox College Director of Athletics
• Rachel  Baker – University of Kentucky Executive Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator
• Seth Balke, J.D. – University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Associate AD of Compliance
• Connor Glass, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Associate at Church Church Hittle + Antrim
• Alexis Barnes, J.D. – Big Ten Conference Assistant Director for Compliance
• Nate Wood, J.D. – University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill Associate AD for Compliance and NIL
• Todd Shumaker, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Partner at Church Church Hittle + Antrim
• Loren Galloway Bowans, J.D. – Southwestern University Title IX Coordinator, former University of Texas at Austin Assistant Coordinator for Athletics Risk Management & Compliance Services
• Matt Banker, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Principal at MB Sports Consulting and Senior Advisor at Church Church Hittle + Antrim
• Evan Guimond, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Senior Associate at Hogan Lovells
• Abby Howard, J.D. – Army West Point Deputy AD, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel
• Thad Satre – Loyola Marymount University Senior Associate AD for Compliance
• Brad Chandler, J.D. – Bradley University Deputy AD
• Erinn Banks, J.D. – Tulane University Senior Associate AD for Governance & Regulatory Affairs
• Ryan McAlvey, J.D. – Consultant, Fortify College Athletics LLC, former NCAA Assistant Director of Enforcement
• Kristina Minor, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Senior Counsel at Husch Blackwell
• Maureen Weston, J.D. – Professor of Law at Pepperdine University School of Law, Director of Entertainment, Media & Sports Dispute Resolution Project
• Paia LaPalombara, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Partner at Church Church Hittle + Antrim
• Scott McDonald, J.D. – NCAA Associate Director of Enforcement
• Julie Owen, J.D. – Kansas State University Executive Director of Cap Management and Revenue Sharing
• Chris Brown – Colorado College Associate AD for Compliance, Student-Athlete Success & Operations
• Josh Lens, J.D. – University of Iowa, Associate Professor of Sport and Recreation Management
• Madison Riggins, J.D. – College athletics attorney and licensed sports agent, Partner at Fortif Law Partners
• Stefany Valentino, Fresno State University Senior Associate AD for Compliance & Student-Athlete Services/Senior Woman Administrator
• TaRonda Randall, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Senior Counsel at Husch Blackwell
• Gregg Clifton, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Partner at Lewis Brisbois
• Katie Ahrens Smith – Big Ten Conference, Vice President for Policy and Compliance
• Avery Brown, J.D. – Attorney at Paganelli Law Group, former NCAA Assistant Director of Enforcement
• John Clune, J.D. – College athletics attorney, Partner at Hutchinson Black and Cook
• Sydney Weiskopf, J.D. – College athletics attorney at Lyda Group
• Emlyn Goodman, J.D. – Oregon State University Director of Compliance
• Jo Potuto, J.D. – University of Nebraska, Emeritus Professor and former chair of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions
• Jeff Myers – NCAA Director of Academic and Membership Affairs
• Shondell Reed, J.D. – Air Force Academy, Senior Associate AD