Introduction
Registrations are now open for the Indian Sports Law Article Competition 2026, organised by Offside Legal in association with IK Law. This national writing competition is dedicated entirely to sports law in India. It invites law students, young professionals and researchers to write original, well-researched articles on the legal questions shaping Indian sport today. Participation is completely free, and the last date to submit is 20 November 2026.
Sport in India is no longer only about what happens on the field. Behind every league, transfer, broadcast deal and selection decision is a framework of contracts, regulations and dispute mechanisms that is still evolving. This competition is an invitation to examine that framework closely, question it and suggest how it can be improved.
About the Organisers
Offside Legal (Organiser)
Offside Legal is India’s leading sports law platform. It connects legal theory with the practical realities of sport and serves a community of legal professionals, academics, athletes, arbitrators and regulators. Through expert sessions, courses, publications and community programmes, Offside Legal builds informed discussion on topics such as:
- football governance
- player contracts and transfers
- dispute resolution before bodies such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
Offside Legal believes sports law in India grows best when knowledge is shared openly, with academics, practitioners and students learning from one another.
IK Law (In Association With)
IK Law is a law practice focused on sports and gaming. It advises athletes, clubs, leagues, federations and gaming businesses on contracts, regulation, disputes and commercial matters. Led by Indiradevi Kollipara, IK Law aims to bring affordable and accessible legal services to stakeholders across the sports and gaming industry.
As association partner, IK Law brings practitioner insight to the competition. It will support the evaluation of entries and help mentor the next generation of sports and gaming lawyers. Participants will therefore have their work read by people who deal with these legal issues in real cases and transactions.
Why This Competition Matters
Indian sport has grown rapidly in recent years. Professional leagues have expanded across disciplines, and athletes are signing more complex commercial and endorsement agreements. Online gaming and fantasy sports have become large industries, and sports federations face increasing scrutiny over transparency and accountability.
Legal writing on these developments has not kept pace. Much of the discussion still happens in news reports and short commentary rather than in-depth analysis. The Sports Law Article Competition aims to close this gap by encouraging serious research that can inform students, practitioners and policymakers alike.
Objectives of the Competition
The competition has been designed around six goals:
- Build a research culture: encourage original, rigorous writing on Indian sports law, a field that is still taking shape.
- Bridge theory and practice: engage with real regulatory, contractual and dispute problems facing athletes, clubs and federations.
- Spotlight emerging issues: draw attention to esports, online gaming, betting regulation, athlete welfare and integrity in sport.
- Discover new voices: recognise talented students and young professionals and give them a platform to be read.
- Connect to the profession: open pathways into sports law through mentorship, internships and learning.
- Inform policy debate: generate well-reasoned ideas for wider conversations on sports governance in India.
Suggested Themes
Participants may choose from the themes below or write on any other contemporary issue in Indian sports law. The themes are a starting point, not a limit.
- Sports governance and accountability of federations: how sports bodies are structured, elected and held accountable.
- Athlete rights, contracts and transfers: the legal position of athletes in their dealings with clubs, agents and sponsors.
- Esports, fantasy sports and online gaming: the regulatory landscape for one of India’s fastest-growing digital sectors.
- Dispute resolution: CAS and national forums: how sporting disputes are resolved, and where Indian mechanisms stand.
- The National Sports Governance framework: the laws and policies that shape how sport is administered in India.
- Doping, integrity and anti-match-fixing: protecting fair competition and the credibility of sport.
- Broadcasting, media rights and IP in sport: the commercial value of sport and the legal rights that protect it.
- Sports betting and the law: the legal treatment of betting and its links to integrity concerns.
- Gender, inclusion and eligibility in sport: questions of equality, participation and eligibility rules.
- Any contemporary issue in Indian sports law: if you have an original angle, the competition welcomes it.
Who Can Participate
The Sports Law Article Competition is open to:
- students enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate law programme (LL.B. / B.A. LL.B. / LL.M.)
- young professionals and researchers interested in sports law
Co-authorship is permitted, with a maximum of two authors per entry. Whether you are new to sports law or already working in the area, you are encouraged to participate.
Submission Guidelines
Please read these guidelines carefully. Entries that do not comply may not be considered.
- Length: 2,000 to 3,500 words, excluding footnotes.
- Formatting: Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing. Footnotes in 10 pt, single spacing.
- Citation: OSCOLA or Bluebook (21st ed.), applied uniformly throughout. Choose one style and use it consistently.
- File format: .docx only. All author details must be removed from the manuscript so that evaluation stays anonymous.
- Cover page: a separate page with the author’s name, institution, year of study, email address and phone number.
- Originality: only original and unpublished work will be accepted. Plagiarism above 5% will lead to disqualification.
- AI use: AI-generated content is not permitted.
- File name: Name_ArticleTitle.docx
- Email subject line: “Submission | ISL Article Competition 2026”
- Submit to: publish@offsidelegal.com
Rewards and Recognition
The Sports Law Article Competition offers rewards that go beyond a certificate and can open real doors into the profession:
- Internship opportunity: the top-ranked authors will receive internships with Offside Legal / IK Law and gain first-hand exposure to sports law work.
- Sports law book: the top two winning entries will receive a sports law book to support their continued learning.
- Top 10 published: the ten best articles will be published on the Offside Legal and IK Law websites, giving authors a public platform for their research.
- Discount on courses: participants will get discounted access to Offside Legal’s sports law courses.
- Every participant will receive an e-certificate of participation.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated by the judging panel on four criteria:
| Criterion | Weightage | What the panel looks for |
|---|---|---|
| Originality of argument | 30% | A fresh perspective or a clear, independent argument |
| Legal research and analysis | 30% | Depth of research and quality of legal reasoning |
| Structure and clarity | 20% | Logical flow and clear, precise writing |
| Relevance and practical impact | 20% | Connection to real issues in Indian sport |
Important Dates
- Registration Opens: 11 October 2026
- Last date to submit: 20 November 2026
- Result announcement: 15 December 2026
How to Register and Submit
- Register through the official form: REGISTER HERE
- Choose your theme and prepare your article according to the submission guidelines.
- Prepare a separate cover page with your personal details, and remove those details from the manuscript.
- Email your submission to publish@offsidelegal.com with the correct file name and subject line before 20 November 2026
Indian Sports Law Article Competition 2026: BROUCHER HERE
Contact Us
For any queries regarding the competition, reach out to:
- Phone: +91 6355306939 / +91 8376038847
- Email: publish@offsidelegal.com
- Websites: www.offsidelegal.com | www.iklaw.co.in
Ready to Take the Field?
The Indian Sports Law Article Competition 2026 is your chance to be read by practitioners, recognised for your research and connected with the sports law community in India. Registrations are open now. Pick your theme, build your argument and submit your best work.
The organisers reserve the right to modify the rules or dates. Decisions of the judging panel are final.
