Proposed Framework for Womens Softball League

Due to the success of Title IX (the law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational institutions that receive federal funding), women’s sports have become an important component of most colleges. Although professional sports opportunities are available for male baseball teams, there has not been a sustained professional women’s softball league. A professional women’s softball league, it is thought, could be economically viable and expose audiences in the United States and Canada as both an alternative to Major League Baseball and to publicize the sport of softball. About fifteen individuals and corporations have expressed interest in creating such a league, tentatively called the WSLA (Women’s’ Softball League of North America). It would include initial franchises in Long Island, New York; Providence, Rhode Island; Rockford, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Major League Baseball has expressed no interest in this venture, although the owners of three unidentified teams have expressed initial interest, but nothing more than that. Nor has UA Softball, the governing body for Olympic softball competition.

The interested groups include individual Americans, as well as corporations that make softball equipment and Internet start-ups. YouTube has also been interested as a sponsor and may be willing to pay for exclusive streaming rights to certain games.

There is much discussion as to what kind of league to create and the rights and obligations of the league and its teams. You (an individual or a group) have been consulted as an expert to assist in the formation. You are to create “A Proposed Framework” for the creation for the WSLA. The areas you are to cover in this agreement are listed below. You may ADD areas, however, you are not to consider the actual rules of the sport:

OWNERSHIP MODEL

FRANCHISING PROCEDURES

RULES ON FRANCHISE RELOCATION

RULES ON EXPANSION

LEAGUE ORGANIZATION (DIVISIONS)

NUMBER OF GAMES

SEASON OF COMPETITION

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

PLAYER SALRIES – ROOKIE

FREE AGENCY

SALARY CAP

PLAYER DRAFT RULES

MERCHANDISE CONTROL

BROADCASTING RIGHTS

REVENUE SHARING