A DECISION YOU CAN ACT ON,final, and built for sport.
Arbitration is FAIR's most structured path: a neutral arbitrator hears both sides and issues a binding decision. It's faster and more private than litigation, run by arbitrators who understand eligibility clocks and season calendars, not generalists learning the sport as they go.
WHAT IT IS
CONTROL BEFORE CONFLICT,not years in open court.
Arbitration is the most formal of FAIR's three paths, but it is still built for sport's pace: a qualified, independent arbitrator hears evidence from both sides on a defined timeline and issues a decision that is binding and enforceable. Where Ombuds and Mediation leave control with the parties, Arbitration exists for the moment a dispute needs a final, independent answer.
Mediation didn't reach an agreement
Both sides tried to negotiate a resolution but couldn't align; the dispute still needs an answer, and it needs to be final.
A contract or NIL clause already calls for arbitration
FAIR clauses embedded in institutional contracts route disputes straight to arbitration: no need to relitigate the process itself.
You need independence, not just an agreement
When trust between the parties has broken down, a binding decision from an independent arbitrator carries weight a negotiated deal can't.
Litigation would be too slow, too public, too costly
Arbitration delivers a final, enforceable decision in weeks, not the 18+ months a court docket typically takes, and it stays private.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A PROCESS YOU CAN SEEbefore you commit to it.
Five defined steps, run on a fixed timeline, not an open-ended court calendar.
Submit a Demand for Arbitration with the basic facts of the dispute. FAIR confirms jurisdiction and notifies the other party.
Both sides review and confirm an independent arbitrator with relevant sport-specific expertise from FAIR's Neutral Directory.
Each side submits documents, witness statements, and written arguments on a fixed schedule: no open-ended discovery.
Both sides present their case directly to the arbitrator. Hearings are private and can be conducted virtually to fit competition calendars.
The arbitrator issues a written, enforceable decision. It is final; there is no re-litigating the same dispute.
WHO CONDUCTS IT
SPORT-SPECIFIC NEUTRALS,not generalist arbitrators.
FAIR arbitrators bring real sport authority to the bench: former NBA and NFL executives, NCAA general counsel, and Olympic-level adjudicators.
Independence and finality only mean something if the person deciding actually understands the sport. That's the whole reason FAIR built its own roster instead of pulling from a generic arbitration panel.
COMMON QUESTIONS
BEFORE YOU FILE,the honest answers.
Can we appeal the arbitrator's decision?
Arbitration decisions are final and binding, with only the narrow judicial review available under standard arbitration law. That finality is what makes the process fast.
Is Arbitration confidential?
Yes. Hearings and filings are private, unlike litigation, which typically becomes part of the public court record.
How is this different from generic arbitration providers like AAA?
FAIR's arbitrators are sport-specific: former conference counsel, league executives, and NCAA administrators, not generalists learning the eligibility rules and season pressures for the first time on your case.
Do I need a lawyer for Arbitration?
It's recommended given the formality of the process, though not always required. FAIR's rules and forms are written to be usable without extensive legal support.
WAYS TO RESOLVE
NOT SURE ARBITRATION IS RIGHT?See how the paths compare.
Arbitration
Binding, formal, and final: a decision you can act on.