Free for students. Always.

Every dispute has a playbook.

Step into realistic sports disputes as advocates, arbitrators, and decision-makers, and learn how conflicts in sport are argued, evaluated, and resolved.

A sports-based arbitration experience for students.
Player's advocateObjection, the rulebook says otherwise.
The panelInteresting. Walk us through Section 12.
Verdict is inSuspension reduced. Reasoning attached.
Students working through a case together
Students celebrating after a workshop session
Basketball arena under the lights
How it works

A structured step by step session.

No legal background required as students learn the process through a guided platform.

01

Get your case

A realistic sports dispute lands on your clipboard, built from the way real conflicts in sport actually play out.

02

Get your role

Advocate for the player. Represent the league. Sit on the panel. Every seat changes how you see the case.

03

Make your play

Present arguments, ask questions, respond under pressure, and support your position with rules and evidence.

04

The call gets made

The panel delivers a reasoned decision. Then the group reviews the reasoning, what worked, and what could have been stronger.

Session code
7249
Your name
Maya R.
Enter the hearing
No account needed. Free for students.
Stage 4 of 8 02:40
Opening statements
Union advocates present first. 3 minutes.
Case file Confidential
Confidential briefing unlocked. Only you can see it.
Read your case file
Live-synced to every device
The platform

Everything runs through the Playbook.

The platform supports the workshop by organizing the case, roles, hearing flow, and final decision.

  • Case files, delivered. Everyone gets the materials they need, right when they need them.
  • Roles, assigned. Each participant receives a clear role and responsibility.
  • The flow, guided. Opening statements to final decision, step by step.
  • Decisions, structured. Panels don't just pick a winner, they reason like real arbitrators.
  • Sessions, tracked. Outcomes and progress saved for the whole season.
Students debating around a table
Rebuttal loading…
Panel is deliberating
What you'll walk away with

The skills transfer.

Students build skills they can use in school, leadership, interviews, and future careers.

  • Think on your feet. Build an argument, then defend it when someone pushes back.
  • Read the rules. Learn how process and precedent shape outcomes, in sport and beyond.
  • Judge fairly. Sitting on a panel teaches you what neutrality actually feels like.
  • Communicate with confidence. Students practice speaking clearly, respectfully, and persuasively.
$0

Always free for students.

No student fees, no ads, and no paid tiers that affect the learning experience. The program is backed by people who believe in it:

Institutional sponsors Educational partners Youth development orgs
Advanced modules

Advanced cases for returning students.

Once you've run the fundamentals, the cases get bigger, messier, and a lot more fun.

Level up

Union vs. League

Complex collective disputes involving league policy, player rights, and financial consequences.

Level up

The Commissioner's Call

Governance and authority cases. Who really runs the league, and who gets to check them?

Level up

The Fine Print

Contract and negotiation simulations where every single word matters. Read carefully.

For educators & schools

Bring the workshop to your students.

Playbook Arbitration is student-led, locally run, and built to slot into your existing programs: no cost to your school, no cost to your students.

We handle the cases, the platform, and the structure. You bring the students. Together we run something they'll still be talking about senior year.

Teacher and students reviewing work together
New session scheduled
Daniel Jacoby, founder of Playbook Arbitration
Daniel Jacoby, Founder
"I wanted students to experience the kind of sports disputes usually reserved for law school, league offices, and professional settings."
About the founder

Built by a student.
For students.

Daniel Jacoby is a grade 11 student with two obsessions: sports and the rules that hold them together. While most fans argue about the call on the field, Daniel kept asking a different question: who decides what happens next? The suspensions, the contract fights, the appeals: an entire world of high-stakes decisions happening just behind the scoreboard.

He built Playbook Arbitration because that world felt locked away, reserved for law schools and league offices, when the skills behind it are exactly what students should be practicing now: arguing with structure, listening with fairness, and deciding with reasons.

Daniel's own game plan? A career as a sports agent and lawyer, representing athletes at the tables where their futures get decided. PBA is his first case: proof that you don't have to wait for a title to start doing the work.

Grade 11 student Future sports agent & lawyer Student-led, start to finish
Get in the game

Pick your position.

Student, teacher, school, or supporter, there's a spot on the roster for you.

Join a Workshop

Grab your spot. It's free, it's fun, and yes, you'll get to argue.

We'll email you a confirmation right away. Free for students, always.

Bring It to Your School

Teachers, administrators, student leaders, tell us about your school and we'll draw up the game plan together.

We'll confirm by email and follow up shortly. No cost to your school or your students.

Support the Program

Sponsors and supporters keep this free for every student. No ads, no interference with learning, just backing something worth backing.

We'll be in touch by email. Student experience always comes first.

Partner With Us

Educational institutions, programs, and organizations, let's build something students will remember.

We'll email you a confirmation and follow up soon.

FAQ

Quick answers. No fine print.

Do I need to know anything about law?

Nope. If you've ever argued a bad ref call, you're qualified to start. The workshops teach the process from the opening whistle.

Do I need to know anything about sports?

Also nope. The cases teach you what you need. Caring about fairness is the only real prerequisite.

Is this online or in person?

In person, that's the point. The web platform supports the room; it doesn't replace it.

How much does it cost?

Zero. For students and schools, it's free, always. The program is supported by sponsors and partners who believe in youth development.

Who runs this?

Students. With structure, standards, and a serious commitment to doing it well.

How long is a workshop?

A full simulation typically runs a single session, case briefing, arguments, deliberation, and the post-game breakdown. Multi-session formats are available for schools that want to go deeper.

Are the cases real?

They're realistic, built to mirror how disputes in sport actually unfold, but the names, teams, and details are fictional. You get the drama without anyone's actual lawyers calling us.

What roles can I play?

Advocates argue for a side, arbitrators sit on the panel and decide, witnesses bring the facts to life, and case managers keep the whole session on the rails. Most participants rotate roles across sessions, every seat teaches something different.

Can I participate more than once?

Absolutely, that's the plan. New cases keep coming, and returning participants unlock the advanced modules: union vs. league disputes, governance cases, and contract simulations.

Will I see ads or get marketed to?

Never. There's no advertising to students and no monetization that touches the learning experience. Supporters back the program because they believe in it, not to reach you.