Abstract National employment and labour relations law, the economic conditions in which a competition is organized, a sport’s regulatory framework and the bargaining power of a player, club, team or federation determine the form and content of working conditions in a professional team sports competition. A team sports competition has some unique features that are reflected in the term and conditions of an athlete’s employment and are not ordinarily seen in other industries. This chapter outlines the special nature of an employment contract and the employment and labour relations laws in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the European Union that form the framework in which professional athletes in the Premier League, the NBA and rugby union are employed. It canvasses the economic features of a team sports competition and outlines the regulatory framework of some sports that can also influence the final form of a player’s employment arrangements. The chapter introduces the specific features of an athlete’s working conditions that will be the subject of further discussion throughout this book.