How to Play the Game

There is a distinction between a sports lawyer and all other types of practitioners. It requires a deep understanding of the nuances that largely affect athletes, their representatives, and companies providing products and services in the space. It also necessitates an acknowledgment of and ability to effectively communicate and craft relationships with power brokers who may provide financial services, accounting, managerial services, or the like in the specific space.


How to Play the Game, by Miami-based attorney and sports agent Darren Heitner, is the go-to source for anyone interested in getting into the field of sports law. It discusses the laws that govern the sports industry, from contract drafting and negotiation to antitrust issues, intellectual property matters, and labor law concerns. It also discusses the role of players’ associations, the power of sports commissioners, sports betting regulations, and more.


But what makes it truly unique are the real-life case studies involving recognized professional and college sports figures as well as anecdotes from Darren’s own experiences as a sports attorney, agent, and media spokesperson for college and professional sports industries. In addition, an appendix contains examples of legal documents--including professional contracts—with which any sports attorney/agent needs to be familiar. In short, if you want to play the game, you need to read How to Play the Game.


Praise for the First Edition of How to Play the Game


“The subject matter related to Sports Law is immense. Much in the way International Law is hard to nail down, as virtually every area of law is present in the context of International Law,  Sports Law   is similar and encompasses many practice areas including, but not limited to, contract, tort, estate planning, intellectual property,  labor and employment law, anti-trust, family law, criminal law, litigation, negotiation . . . and the list goes on. If you are looking  for a summary of all of these practice areas in about 200 pages, I wish you luck finding it. If you are looking for a survey of topics relevant to your Sports Law practice, with small case studies to provide practical examples of issues you may encounter, then Darren has provided just that for you in his book How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know. One builds a Sports Law practice, or any law practice, one brick at a time. This book is one brick, use it, and others, to build a strong foundation  for your practice.”
—Attorney Alexander Scott Dennison


“Mr. Heitner has set the bar with his work. This book is without a doubt the definitive go to piece in the industry. The in-depth knowledge, analysis and factual statements are 100% on-point. Every university with a Sports and/or Entertainment Law/ Management program should make How to Play the Game a mandatory read.”
—Travis Bell, Founder and CEO of The Seven Bridges Group