Sports
Student-athletes find more power in the changing legal landscape of college sports
Last Updated on December 28, 2024 by Daily News Staff
Joshua Lens, University of Iowa
Ever since the NCAA permitted college athletes to get paid by companies that use their names, images and likenesses, athletes have tested the limits of their increasing power.
One of the latest examples is Matthew Sluka, the starting quarterback for UNLV’s first three games of the 2024 season. After helping lead UNLV to three wins and potential contention for a prestigious College Football Playoff bid, Sluka announced on Sept. 24, 2024, he would sit out the rest of the season. His decision is the result of a dispute over compensation for use of his name, image and likeness, commonly referred to as NIL.
While the decision sent shock waves through college athletics, it also shines light on the changing balance of power that favors athletes over their coaches and universities.
As a former lawyer and college athletics compliance administrator – and also as a current university faculty member who has authored several law review articles on legal issues related to NIL – I suggest that Sluka’s situation exemplifies how collegiate athletes can use recent NCAA rules changes to improve their financial situation in the NIL era of college athletics.
Promises and denials
Sluka’s NIL agent claims a UNLV assistant coach failed to fulfill a promise he made Sluka during the recruiting process. That promise, according to Sluka’s agent, was that Sluka would receive US$100,000 of NIL compensation from an NIL collective should he attend UNLV. NIL collectives are generally formed to pool individuals’ and businesses’ funds to provide NIL opportunities and compensation for athletes.
Any such promise by a UNLV assistant coach would violate current NCAA policy. That’s because NCAA policy prohibits coaches from making NIL compensation offers contingent on whether a student enrolls. NIL collectives, on the other hand, may negotiate with athletes during the recruiting process as the result of a U.S. District Court ruling. That ruling prohibits the NCAA from penalizing collectives that negotiate NIL compensation with athletes during the recruiting process.
In a forthcoming BYU Law Review article, however, I suggest that a university whose star athlete transfers because another school’s collective recruited the athlete possesses a viable legal claim against the collective. That claim would be for inducing the athlete to transfer and violate their athletics scholarship agreement.
UNLV denies Sluka’s version of events. The university asserts that Sluka’s representative demanded more compensation from UNLV and its NIL collective in order for Sluka to continue playing. UNLV says it then refused, as such a “pay-for-play” agreement violates NCAA policy, which states that athletes may not accept NIL compensation based on “play” or on-field results.
Perceptions and ‘pay-to-play’
In Sluka’s case, further complicating things is the issue of whether Sluka’s NIL representative is properly registered with the state as an agent, as required by Nevada law. The state may be interested in pursuing enforcement, given the Nevada secretary of state’s relationship with UNLV’s NIL collective. More specifically, Nevada Secretary of State Francisco V. Aguilar co-founded Blueprint Sports, which operates the collective.
NCAA rules allow a football player to retain a year of eligibility if they play in four or fewer games in a season. Sluka exercised this ability by leaving his team. There is little that UNLV can do about it beyond taking away Sluka’s athletic scholarship for leaving the team.
Universities, however, must be increasingly sensitive to providing the necessary procedures, such as hearings and appeal opportunities, before disciplining athletes in the NIL era. As I explain in a forthcoming SMU Law Review article, a recent U.S. District Court decision involving then-University of Illinois men’s basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. precluded the university from enforcing its suspension of Shannon without providing appropriate processes, lest he lose out on NIL compensation, which the court classified as a constitutionally protected interest.
A slew of lawsuits
Before it granted college athletes the ability to get paid through NIL deals, the NCAA faced long-standing criticism that its policies were unfair to athletes. The argument was that athletes benefited relatively little compared with the NCAA, conferences and universities, even though it was the athletes who provided the product. Along those lines, former college football stars Terrelle Pryor, Reggie Bush and Denard Robinson all recently filed separate lawsuits against the NCAA over denied NIL compensation opportunities.
Some college football luminaries are now questioning whether the pendulum of power has swung too far in favor of athletes in the NIL era. Examples include former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and former Ohio State quarterback and longtime ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit. Saban has openly wondered whether the current college football model is sustainable. Herbstreit has lamented “the players having all the control” without any accountability to their coaches and universities.
High-profile college football players, such as quarterbacks Kelly Bryant and D’Eriq King and receiver Gary Bryant Jr., previously exploited NCAA rules permitting them to play in four games and then transfer to another university without sacrificing a season of competition eligibility.
At least publicly, their decisions were due to on-field considerations such as playing time. Sluka’s decision to forgo playing the rest of the season and transfer was different. It is the first time – but likely not the last – a college athlete has publicly based their decision to leave their team mid-season on an NIL dispute.
Sluka’s departure from UNLV makes clear that collegiate athletes’ power to move freely between universities in pursuit of their best financial situation has greatly increased. Meanwhile, their coaches’ and universities’ power to keep them on the team and participating has significantly decreased.
Joshua Lens, Associate Professor of Instruction of Sport & Recreation Management, University of Iowa
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The Sports section of STM Daily News is your ultimate destination for all things sports, catering to everyday fans and dedicated enthusiasts alike. We cover a wide range of topics, from the thrill of amateur competitions to the excitement of semi-professional and professional leagues. Our content delves into physical and mental fitness, providing insights and tips that help individuals elevate their performance, whether on the field or in their personal wellness journeys. Stay informed and inspired as we explore the dynamic world of sports, celebrating both the passion of the players and the joy of the fans.
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Sports Facilities Companies Acquires RCI Sports Management
The Sports Facilities Companies has acquired RCI Sports Management, enhancing its national presence and services in sports tourism and venue operations. This acquisition adds properties in Texas and Kansas, focusing on improving facility performance and revenue generation through integrated marketing and standardized systems, reflecting a trend in consolidating sports facility services.
The Sports Facilities Companies has acquired Texas-based RCI Sports Management, a move that expands its national footprint while strengthening its position in sports tourism, venue operations, and economic impact services for municipalities and private owners.
The deal adds RCI-managed properties in Texas and Kansas to the SF Network, including The Refinery Fieldhouse in Garden City, Amarillo Netplex in Amarillo, and Travis Fields at Midtown Park in Bryan. Together, the facilities broaden SFC’s reach in mid-market communities where youth sports, tournaments, and event programming are increasingly tied to hotel stays, visitor spending, and local business activity.
SFC said the acquisition will help accelerate facility performance through integrated marketing, sponsorship sales, standardized operating systems, and expanded event and tourism pipelines. That makes this more than a management deal — it reflects the continued consolidation of sports facility services as operators look to scale revenue generation, improve efficiency, and deliver stronger returns for public and private partners.
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Source: The Sports Facilities Companies via PR Newswire
The Sports section of STM Daily News is your ultimate destination for all things sports, catering to everyday fans and dedicated enthusiasts alike. We cover a wide range of topics, from the thrill of amateur competitions to the excitement of semi-professional and professional leagues. Our content delves into physical and mental fitness, providing insights and tips that help individuals elevate their performance, whether on the field or in their personal wellness journeys. Stay informed and inspired as we explore the dynamic world of sports, celebrating both the passion of the players and the joy of the fans.
Sports
The U.S. Army Names Soldier-Athletes Headed to the 2026 Winter Games in Italy
The U.S. Army says nine WCAP Soldier-athletes and coaches will compete at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy in bobsled, biathlon, Nordic combined and figure skating—showcasing elite fitness, discipline and performance.
The U.S. Army is sending a new group of Soldier-athletes to one of the biggest stages in international sports.
In a Jan. 29, 2026 announcement, the Army said nine Soldier-athletes and coaches will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, with two additional Soldiers traveling as alternates. The group will compete across bobsled, biathlon, Nordic combined, and pairs figure skating—sports that demand equal parts endurance, precision, and mental toughness.
Who’s representing the Army at the 2026 Winter Games
According to the release, the Army’s lineup of Soldier-athletes and coaches includes:
Competing and coaching in Italy
- Lt. Col. Chris Fogt (Bobsled Head Coach)
- Lt. Col. Garrett Hines (Bobsled Coach)
- Sgt. 1st Class Shauna Rohbock (Bobsled Coach)
- Sgt. Frank Del Duca (Bobsled)
- Spc. Azaria Hill (Bobsled)
- Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin (Biathlon)
- Spc. Sean Doherty (Biathlon)
- Sgt. Ben Loomis (Nordic Combined)
- Pvt. Spencer Howe (Pairs Figure Skating)
Alternates
- Cpl. Hakeem Abdul-Saboor (Bobsled Alternate)
- Spc. Dana Kellogg (Luge Doubles Alternate)
Soldier first, athlete always
The Army emphasized that WCAP athletes remain full-time Soldiers while training and competing at the elite level. Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman, the Army’s Chief Marketing Officer, said the same traits built through military service—discipline, mental agility, teamwork, and readiness—translate directly into high-level athletic performance.
“Even when competing at the highest level, these athletes are U.S. Army Soldiers first,” Braman said in the release, adding that they’re trained to be “tactically and technically proficient” and prepared to perform in any environment.
What is the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP)?
The Soldier-athletes train and serve through the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), which supports top-ranked Soldiers competing at the international level. WCAP provides coaching, facilities, and training resources while ensuring Soldiers maintain their readiness and complete mandatory Army requirements.
While WCAP was officially established in 1997, the Army says it has been training Soldier-athletes for more than 75 years. Over that span, the Army has sent more than 600 Soldier-athletes to compete on the world stage, earning more than 120 medals across summer and winter sports.
Italy adds a layer of Army history
This year’s Winter Games location also carries historical meaning for the Army. The release points to World War II, when the 10th Mountain Division—an elite unit trained for mountain warfare—climbed Riva Ridge in northern Italy in a mission that helped shift momentum in the war.
After returning home, many Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division helped build the foundation of the American ski industry by establishing ski resorts and ski schools across the U.S.—a legacy that still shows up in winter sports culture today.
Braman called the upcoming Games “a unique moment” to honor both the Army’s history in alpine terrain and its long-standing presence in elite athletics.
What to Watch For
- Biathlon conditioning: How Soldier-athletes balance endurance output with shooting precision under fatigue.
- Bobsled power and speed: Starts win races—watch for explosive sprint mechanics and teamwork on push phases.
- Nordic combined workload: One of the toughest mixes in sport; look for training insights on strength-to-weight and aerobic capacity.
- Recovery and readiness: How WCAP athletes manage sleep, mobility, and injury prevention while staying Soldier-ready.
- Italy’s alpine backdrop: The region’s mountain history adds context—and pressure—for performance in cold, high-demand environments.
Learn more
For more information about the U.S. Army and opportunities like WCAP, the release directs readers to GoArmy.com, including GoArmy.com/world-class-athlete-program.
Source: U.S. Army (PRNewswire), Jan. 29, 2026
Related External Links
- U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) – Overview of how Soldier-athletes train and compete at the elite level.
- GoArmy.com – Learn more about U.S. Army opportunities and careers.
- Team USA – Athlete news, sport profiles, and updates across Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.
- Olympics.com – Official Winter Games coverage, schedules, and sport explainers.
- International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) – Rules, rankings, and event info for Nordic disciplines, including Nordic combined.
- International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) – Bobsled and skeleton sport info, events, and athlete resources.
- International Biathlon Union (IBU) – Biathlon news, event calendars, and performance insights.
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CourtsApp Launches as “The Healthiest App in the World,” Turning Screen Time Into Play Time
CourtsApp, branded as “the healthiest app in the world,” aims to reduce screen time by encouraging users to engage in racquet sports like tennis and pickleball. The platform facilitates easy court bookings without membership fees, promoting movement and social interaction. Expansion plans cover various U.S. regions, maximizing accessibility for players.
If your New Year’s reset includes less scrolling and more moving, CourtsApp is trying to make that switch ridiculously easy.
CourtsApp has officially launched with a bold claim—calling itself “the healthiest app in the world”—and the positioning is clear: it’s not another wellness app asking for more screen time. It’s a tool designed to get you off your phone and onto a court.
What CourtsApp is (and why it’s different)
CourtsApp is an AI-powered marketing and booking platform that helps players instantly find and book open courts for tennis, pickleball, padel, and other racquet sports—often at discounted prices. The key point: no membership fees are required.
That matters because “friction” is one of the biggest reasons people don’t play as often as they want to. If booking a court means juggling memberships, phone calls, limited availability, or confusing club policies, most people default to the easier option: staying home.
CourtsApp’s pitch is simple: open the app, find a court, book it, and go play.
Turning screen time into play time
Most apps compete for attention. CourtsApp is leaning into the opposite idea—convert screen time into movement.
The average adult now spends more than seven hours a day looking at screens, a trend that’s often linked with rising rates of obesity, heart disease, anxiety, and social isolation. CourtsApp is positioning itself as a healthier relationship with your phone: use it briefly, then put it away and get outside.
Instead of tracking steps or pushing workouts through a screen, the app is built around real-world activity—full-body movement, outdoor play, and social connection.
Why racquet sports are having a moment
CourtsApp’s launch also taps into a bigger trend: racquet sports are booming, and not just because they’re fun.
Founder and CEO Daren Hornig argues that sports like tennis and pickleball can be a stronger path to fitness and longevity than the typical “10,000 steps” mindset.
“CourtsApp turns your phone into a gateway to real-world health,” Hornig said. “For years, we’ve been told that you can stay fit and lose weight by walking 10,000 steps a day, taking a Peloton class online or going to a gym. However, sports like tennis and pickleball give you a greater chance to achieve your health and fitness goals and live a longer and healthier life. And there’s no better time to start than the New Year.”
The company also points to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, citing long-term data following more than 80,000 adults over nearly a decade. According to the release, participants in racquet sports saw a 47% lower risk of death from any cause and up to a 56% lower risk of cardiovascular-related death compared to non-participants.
Where CourtsApp is live now—and what’s next
CourtsApp is currently live for players across:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
The platform already lists more than 1,500 courts across 150+ facilities in those markets.
Next up: expansion from Maine to Florida by Q1 2026, followed by market-by-market growth as club density increases. The release also calls out additional play-in markets including:
- Southern California
- Texas
- Pacific Northwest
Flexible pricing, more access, fewer barriers
One of the most practical angles here is affordability and access.
CourtsApp highlights discounted pricing during quieter hours—helping players turn a random free afternoon into court time without committing to a membership or paying peak-hour rates.
For clubs, the platform doubles as a marketing and booking engine. For players, it’s a shortcut to the thing they actually want: a court that’s open right now.
The bigger takeaway
CourtsApp is betting on a simple truth: people don’t need more motivation apps—they need fewer obstacles.
If the app delivers on its promise (fast booking, real inventory, and meaningful discounts), it could become a go-to tool for anyone trying to make movement a habit—especially in sports like pickleball and tennis where access and scheduling can make or break consistency.
Players and clubs can learn more or join the platform at CourtsApp.com.
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- CourtsApp (Official Site)
- More Sports + Wellness Coverage on STM Daily News
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