The Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA), whose mission is to further the study and dissemination of information regarding legal aspects of sport and recreation, announced today that it has published Safe at First, making it available through its distribution partner, Hackney Publications, at https://pubs.hackneypublications.com/SRLA/subscribe.html
“This is the most detailed risk management guide ever written to help sport administrators do their job and avoid potential legal liability,” said SRLA President Dr. Natasha Brison.
Safe at First was written by 40 of the best sport law educators, attorneys, and executives in the country. The text gives significant coverage to a wide variety of risks. As an example, while the text covers typical risks seen in popular sports such as baseball, basketball, and football, it also covers less popular sports such as risks with esports, combat sports, and water sports. That is where this text then veers off from the traditional sport law texts by covering so many other sport related risks from financial risk management, insurance, marketing, and numerous other topics. In total, there are almost 120 chapters.
University of West Florida Professor and SRLA member Dr. Gil Fried served as the senior editor of the book.
“While the total number of chapters might appear daunting, each chapter has significant value,” Dr. Fried said. “Most chapters start with current events highlighting why the topic is relevant followed by several sample cases. They then typically cover sample risk management efforts followed by ten quick take-aways, resources, and references. Some chapters differ in being modified reports pulled from actual cases to help show how specific cases might have been decided and how facts played into a successful or unsuccessful case. There are also specific risk management tools at the end of the text that examine questions that might be asked in a case or checklists to leverage a risk management effort.”
This edition comes 25 years after the first edition was written by Drs. Gil Fried and Herb Appenzeller. Dr. Appenzeller passed away in 2018 and this edition is dedicated to his memory and honor. To that end, all proceeds from this sale will go to a scholarship fund in his name through SRLA.
“SRLA was one of his favorite organizations,” said Dr. Fried. “He loved to attend and learn from his colleagues at the annual conference.”
SRLA is offering three different pricing tiers to access the book:
Single copy price – $99
Educational site license good for one year with a school able to customize and distribute whichever chapters they want in a wide variety of courses (needs to be renewed each academic year) – $300
Commercial site license. For companies wanting to distribute to their clients, members, or insured, special pricing is available and can be negotiated by talking with senior editor Dr. Gil Fried at gfried@uwf.edu. Remember, all such licenses are paid to the non-profit group SRLA to support scholarships for future sport law educators/researchers.
About SRLA
SRLA addresses legal aspects of sport and recreation within both the public and private sectors.
The Association serves academicians and practitioners in private and public sport and recreation settings. Members have diverse educational and experiential backgrounds and represent a variety of occupations and interests. They may teach or be students at institutions of higher education (sport and recreation management programs, law schools), practice law, operate risk management firms, or serve in other related fields.
SRLA hosts an annual conference that provides quality peer-reviewed scholarship in the area of sport and recreation law. The 2025 Conference will be at the Hilton Hotel Myrtle Beach South Carolina February 25th – March 2nd. Scholarship is disseminated through 25- or 50-minute presentations, 75-minute symposium sessions, and poster sessions. Conference attendees also have the opportunity to interact with scholars and practitioners from across the country, engage in social activities, and network with industry professionals. The annual conference is beneficial for professionals, academics and students alike.
