Text:
Wilde, Jesse & Cotton, Doyice. Sport Law for Sport Managers. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1997.
National Dropout Prevention Center. Pocket Guide to Service Learning. 1995

Purpose of the Course: The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of the legal issues involved in the supervision, management, and conduct of sport and recreation.

Objectives for the Student:
1. To understand the nature of the American legal system and its relationship to governing bodies in sport and recreation.
2. To be cognizant of the potential liability for injuries in the supervision, management, and conduct of sport and recreation, and of strategies for limiting liability.
3. To understand the rights and responsibilities of management, employees, participants, and clientele, and the potential for management liability.
4. To know the basic components of a risk management plan and be able to apply them to a given sport or recreation setting.
5. To be able to apply selected legal principles to cases involving civil rights and civil liberties of personnel, participants, and clientele. Particular application is made to civil rights of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
6. To increase awareness of current legal issues in sport and recreation.
7. To learn to think critically and analytically about the mutual interaction between the law and society.

Policies & Procedures
Overview of Course Content Assessment
Intro to American Legal System 20%
Midterm Exam 1 (terminology & concepts)
Trial summaries and case analysis 20%
Midterm Exam 2 (application of legal principles to scenarios)
Proactive Risk Management 40% Service Learning Project:
Oral Presentation = 10%
Written Segment of Risk Management Plan = 10%
Plan Segment End Product = 10%
Field Notes = 5%
Group Participation = 5%
Reactive Risk Management 10%
Mock Trial Participation and Journal
10% Final Exam (executive summary and reflective essay)
____
100%

Attendance and Due Dates
Attendance will be taken on a regular basis; however, the purpose for taking attendance is to document your attendance rather than penalize your absence. There is a strong connection between class attendance and comprehension of material and grade performance. Make-up exams and acceptance of late work will be allowed for excused absences only. Excused absences must be cleared with the Gwynn in advance, unless a doctor·s note is provided after an unexpected illness. Students participating in university-sponsored extracurricular activities (including intercollegiate athletics) must bring notification of class days to be missed at least one week in advance of the event in order for the absence to be excused.

Service Learning Project
Service Learning Community Partners:
Instructor will identify two agencies willing to serve as partners with the class in a risk management project. Any student will have the option of identifying their own agency, submitting a proposal and working alone or in pairs, but they will need to complete the entire project rather than a segment.

Service Learning Project Description:
Work with an agency to complete a risk management assessment and develop a written risk management handbook, oral presentation of the project, executive summary for the Community Partner, presentation for the end-of semester celebration, and one other end product depending upon segment completed.

Service Learning Groups:
Half the class will work with each agency in sub-committees of 3-4. Each group will be responsible for a different segment of the risk management process, and upon completion will pass their portion on to the next sub-committee for further work. Students will be able to rank their choices of agency, segment of the plan they would like to work on (be sure to read end-product requirements). The instructor will then create student groups based on these rankings.

Service Learning Products which all students must complete:
Risk Management handbook containing the requested items (done on CLE with color codes)
20-minute Presentation to the class
Executive Summary for the Community Partner
Presentation for the celebration of the service learning collaborative
Service Learning End Products which student must complete depending upon segment of risk management process completed:
Facility: detailed map and site assessment
Human resources (employees): staff training presentation video
Human resources (participants): policy & procedures manual
Programming and Transportation: accident/incident reports and programming/transportation plan
Marketing and Public Relations: press release and either public service announcement or newsletter articles or internal memos for employees

Risk Management Plan Segments
The structure of the risk management plan MUST conform to guidelines that will be provided at a later date. This paper will be evaluated for thoroughness in identifying risks and planning risk reduction strategies, as well as for careful and effective written presentation. If feedback from a group indicates that a group member did not put forth an equitable amount of effort, the instructor reserves the right to assign that person a lower grade.
Budgets:
Through a grant from the Service Learning Collaborative, we have $500 to support our work. It can be used for supplies, mileage, etc. Each group will need to submit a budget for approval prior to spending any money, and if the budget is approved, receipts will be required for reimbursement.
Final Exam:
A key component in learning is the reflection on what has been accomplished. Your field notes and the final exam will provide opportunities to express your understanding, application and plans to use the information in the future.

Course Outline:
WORK TOPIC / READING DUE

Jan 13 Introduction to risk management and service learning

Jan 18 Introduction to American Legal System ch. 1.10
A. structure
B. anatomy of a lawsuit

Jan 20 Overview of Service Learning Project ch. 2.50
A. organizations
B. concepts
C. projects

Jan 25 Contracts ch. 3.00
A. elements of a valid contract
B. employment contracts
C. athletic scholarships
D. game/event-related contracts

Jan 27 Trespass/Nuisance/Intentional Torts ch. 2.40

Feb 1 Negligence & Product Liability ch. 2.00-2.30
A. elements of negligence
B. defenses to negligence
C. sport and recreation management applications
D. product liability

Feb 3 Civil Liberties ch. 4.00-4.15
A. drug testing ch. 4.26
B. freedom of speech ch. 4.23
C. freedom of religion ch. 4.28

EXAM 1 FEB. 8

Feb 10 Risk Management ch. 2.50
A. risk management planning
B. operational reduction of risk
C. financial management of risk

Feb 15 Service Learning Project Work Plans
CLE clinic

Feb 17 Civil Rights
A. Race & Gender ch. 4.24-4.25
1. equal protection
2. Title VII

Feb 22 Service Learning Report Facility Presentations

Feb 24 Civil Rights (cont.)
A. Pregnancy
B. sexual harassment

Feb 29 Civil Rights (cont.)
C. Title IX
E. Disability ch. 4.27, 5.70

March 2 Civil Rights (cont.)
F. HIV+ status

March 7 Service Learning Report Human Resource Presentations
March 9 Mock Trial
March 14 Mock Trial
March 16 Mock Trial
March 20-24 Spring Break
March 28 Mock Trial Jury Deliberations
March 30 Service Learning Report Programming/Transportation Presentations
April 4 Trial Summaries and Case Analysis
April 6 Trial Summaries and Case Analysis
April 11 Exam 2
April 13 Advertising/Trademarks/Copyright ch. 5.30, 5.40
April 18 Service Learning Report Marketing/Public Relations Presentations
April 20 Criminal Law
April 25 Bribery, gambling, ticket scalping ch. 5.12
April 27 Player violence ch. 5.11

FINAL EXAM This syllabus is as accurate as possible at this time, any changes will be discussed in class and communicated through e-mail. It is your responsibility to check your university e-mail account at least once a week.