FAQ
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ACTUALLY ASKbefore they ever say a word out loud.
Straight answers, no legal jargon. If you don't see your question here, Schedule Private Briefing or send a Submit Confidential Inquiry.
About FAIR
What is FAIR Sports?
FAIR Sports is an independent dispute resolution provider built specifically for college and professional athletics. We offer three structured paths: Ombuds, Mediation, and Arbitration, so conflicts get a predictable, professional process instead of a public fight or a courtroom.
What's the difference between Ombuds, Mediation, and Arbitration?
Ombuds is early, confidential, and informal; it's for surfacing a concern before it becomes a formal dispute. Mediation brings both sides together with a neutral facilitator to reach a voluntary agreement. Arbitration is a formal, binding process where a neutral reviews the case and issues a final decision. Not sure which fits? Use Find Your Path.
Isn't FAIR just another vendor without real standing?
FAIR's neutrals include former NCAA general counsel, Hall of Fame coaches, and arbitrators who've worked NBA and NFL disputes. See real names and credentials on our Neutrals and Leadership pages, not just job titles, but the actual people who'd handle your case.
Who is FAIR actually for?
Institutions and conferences building a predictable process before conflict happens; lawyers, agents, and advisors comparing FAIR to litigation or generic arbitration for a client; and athletes, coaches, and families who need a safe way to be heard. See Find Your Path for a path suited to you.
The Process
What actually happens if I start this process?
Starting doesn't lock you into anything irreversible. You submit information, a case manager confirms the right path for your situation, a neutral is assigned, and you're given a clear timeline: you see each step before it happens. See the full walkthrough on Start a Case.
Do I need a lawyer to do this?
No. Ombuds and Mediation are designed to be approachable without legal representation, and our team explains each step in plain language. Arbitration is more formal and many parties choose to bring counsel, but it isn't required.
How is this better than generic arbitration or the AAA?
FAIR's rules are published and built specifically for sports disputes, our neutrals have direct sports law and league experience, and our process runs on a defined, published timeline, not an open-ended docket. Compare the details in Rules.
How predictable and fast is this, really?
Every case follows the same four stages: intake, path selection, neutral assignment, resolution timeline, with published timeframes at each step. Arbitration outcomes are typically measured in weeks, not the months or years common in litigation.
Will I have to draft the dispute clause language myself?
No. FAIR provides ready-to-use contract clause language on our Contract Clauses page, and a guided clause tool to adapt it to your specific contract.
Cost & Confidentiality
Will this become public?
No. Confidential inquiries, Ombuds conversations, and Mediation sessions are not part of any public record. Even Arbitration, while formal and binding, is a private process between the named parties, not an open courtroom.
Will raising this hurt my standing on my team or with my institution?
A confidential inquiry or Ombuds conversation is not shared with your coach, employer, or institution unless and until you decide to move forward. You can ask questions and understand your options before anyone else is involved. Start with a Submit Confidential Inquiry if this is your main concern.
What does this cost, and is it worth it?
Cost depends on the path and the parties involved. Institutions that adopt FAIR clauses in their contracts pay no cost to participate when a dispute arises. The cost of establishing the process up front is far lower than the legal and reputational cost of an unmanaged conflict later.
Won't this create more administrative burden than it solves?
The opposite is the intent: the process is defined once, before a dispute happens, so no one has to improvise a response under pressure. Institutions that put a FAIR clause in their contracts don't have to build a new process every time something comes up.
Who sees the information I share?
Only the FAIR team members handling your matter and, once a case is formally active, the assigned neutral and the other named party. Confidential inquiries are seen only by FAIR's intake team.