The Sport Solution (Faculty Of Law, University of Western Ontario) (Canada)

http://www.athletescan.com  
c/o University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law
London, Ontario N6A 3K7
Toll Free: 1-888-434-8883
Tel: (519) 661-4163
Fax: (519) 661-2153
Email: law.sportsolution@uwo 

The Sport Solution is committed to helping athletes find solutions to a wide range of sport related issues. They offer access to free information, assistance and guidance on sport issues that may require legal council, such as selection, carding and discipline. 

Athletes may phone toll free at 1-888-434-8883 to receive free confidential advice. You can also reach the Sport Solution by fax at 1-519-661-3886 or by email at law.sportsolution@uwo.ca. 

Athletes are advised to call early! They can better help you if you call before the problem escalates. 

This program is a joint offering of Athletes CAN, the Dispute Resolution Centre, and the Faculty of Law of the University of Western Ontario. If your issue requires legal assistance, you may be referred to Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, a national law firm affiliated with the Sport Solution. 

History
In April 1996, Athletes CAN joined forces with the with the Sports Law Centre, the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario, and the Dispute Resolution Centre to create a not-for-profit program to help high performance Canadian amateur athletes resolve legal conflicts. Together, they named this project the Sport Solution. It is the only program of its kind in North America and is available free of charge to all members of Athletes CAN.

Mission Statement
The Sport Solution is committed to achieving athlete centred sport and we strive to achieve this objective by counseling and advocating on behalf of Canadian amateur athletes so that they may take action with respect to sports related legal issues that affect them.

Services Provided
The Sport Solution provides assistance to Canadian amateur athletes in resolving sports related legal issues and offers support throughout the dispute resolution process. We also offer athletes guidance on how to avoid conflict and understand the fair administration of sport. We respond to the legal needs of athletes on a full range of issues and can provide information about:
  • General Inquiries and Concerns
  • NSO Procedures
  • How to Prepare for NSO Appeals and Arbitration
  • Your Athlete Agreement
  • Corresponding With Your NSO

Types of Issues We Handle:
  • Selection
  • Funding / Carding
  • Discipline
  • Harassment
  • Sports Related Legal Concerns
If your issue requires legal assistance, the Sport Solution may refer you to Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, a national law firm which has been providing pro bono legal advice to athletes since 1996, as part if its Community Law Program. The Osler partner responsible for these services is Jim Smellie, who is located in the Osler office in Calgary, Alberta.

We Can Help
CALL EARLY! We can better help you if you call us before the problem escalates. We encourage you to call as soon as questions arise. At the Sport Solution, you, the athlete, control the dispute resolution process — we’re here to give you the tools to resolve the problem.

Sport Solution Program Managers
Shane Henry
Shane Henry is currently a first year law student at the University of Western Ontario. He has obtained a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Science Degree in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida.

Steven Teal
Steven is currently a first year law student at the University of Western Ontario and has a cross-disciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology and Psychology, also from Western.