Research Handbook of Employment Relations in Sport (Research Handbooks in Business and Management series)

Book info: Research Handbook of Employment Relations in Sport (Research Handbooks in Business and Management series) (Hardcover, 424 pages) – Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016. Language: English.

Employment relations, much discussed in other industries, has often been neglected in professional sports despite its unique characteristics. The book aims to explore in detail the unique nature of the employment relationship in professional sports and the sport industry.

In four parts the book examines, firstly the regulation of sporting competition both within and across sporting codes; secondly a range of employment law issues such as how contracting and negotiation are handled, how disputes are resolved, and the role of sporting representatives such as player associations. The third section discusses the economic issues related to employment such as transfers, drafts and efforts to achieve ''competitive balance''. The final section of the book explores contemporary issues in sports management and governance, including anti-discrimination and anti-doping policy.

Through this analysis the book identifies the complex and unique issues surrounding employment relations within professional sports and the sport industry.

Contributors include: J. Anderson, M. Barry, P. Bouris, C. Coupland, C. Depken III, J.B. Dworkin, T. Engelberg, S. Gardiner, R. Gomez, B. Keller, L. Masteralexis, G. Maynes, H. Mitchell, S. Moston, J.A.R. Nafziger, M. Nichol, R. Paul, P. Schuwalow, J. Skinner, J. Solow, M. Stewart, K. Vieweg, P. Von Allmen, A. Weinbach, R. Welch

Editorial Reviews Review ‘A new addition to the growing area of sport-industry-specific texts, Research Handbook of Employment Relations in Sport brings to light an understudied topic in a fashion that can be easily understood by sport management or communications students, regardless of their background in academia. Whether approaching from a researcher’s or practitioner’s perspective in the sport management industry, this handbook provides a compelling case for further incorporation of employment relations (ER) scholarship into sport-industry-based research. . . . The contents of this Research Handbook are a must-read for those hoping to better understand the multitude of employment relationships happening within the sport industry. . . . This edited Research Handbook presents historical and modern issues that need to be studied and discussed by sport practitioners as the questions surrounding ER in sport happen on a continuum in sporting environments across the globe. While readers of this text may find interest in individual chapters, a complete read of the volume will provide a much more comprehensive understanding of legal, regulatory, and economic considerations that are in need of further research. . . . Through reading these texts, sport communication practitioners will better understand athletes and professionals with whom they will interact and work.​‘ -- Ryan Turcott, University of Georgia, US and International Journal of Sport Communication

'This book is a long overdue investigation of an important, but neglected, aspect of sport management. The editors have not only assembled a set of international contributors who are leaders in their respective fields, but they have also identified the employment relations issues of central concern to those studying sport management. This book should be on the shelf of every sport management researcher.' -- Barrie Houlihan, Loughborough University, UK About the Author Edited by Michael Barry, Professor, Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources, Griffith University, James Skinner, Dean and Professor of Sport Business, Newcastle Business School, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle and Terry Engelberg, James Cook University, Australia