What We're Doing

CAPA has submitted a petition to the National Labor Relations Board to assert the labor rights of Northwestern University football players.  If successful, athletes across the nation could eventually establish a national players association that will fight unjust NCAA rules.

In its continued support for college athletes’ rights, the United Steelworkers has agreed to provide CAPA with resources necessary to pursue this course of action by paying the legal team that will be representing CAPA before the National Labor Relations Board to prove that the National Labor Relations Act covers college athletes.

Some Goals:

CAPA will ultimately allow players to collectively bargain for comprehensive reform such as:

• Guaranteed coverage for sports-related medical expenses for current and former players.
• Minimizing the risk of sports-related traumatic brain injury.  Reduce contact in practices like the NFL and Pop Warner have done, place independent concussion experts on the sidelines, and establish uniform return to play protocols.
• Improving graduation rates.  Establish an educational trust fund to help former players complete their degree and reward those who graduate on time.
• Consistent with evolving NCAA regulations or future legal mandates, increasing athletic scholarships and allowing players to receive compensation for commercial sponsorships.
• Securing due process rights.  Players should not be punished simply because they are accused of a rule violation, and any punishments levied should be consistent across campuses.

CAPA will give college athletes a seat at the table to secure much needed protections.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions section for more details.