Term |
Definition |
Backup |
A player who plays a position but often doesn’t get into a game until the starter at that position is injured. |
Small-market team |
A professional sports team that does not earn much annual revenue compared to a big-market team. |
Big-market team |
A professional sports team that earns more annual revenue than a small-market team. |
Draft |
A formal process by which professional teams select amateur athletes to join their team. |
Luxury tax |
A penalty that a team, especially in Major League Baseball, must pay if they pay out a certain amount of money in player salaries in a given season. |
Contract |
A legal agreement between a team and a player in which the player is paid money in exchange for playing on the team. |
Scouts |
Talent evaluators for professional sports teams who scout, or research, amateur players who might one day become professionals. |
Free agency |
When a player has completed his present contract and is free to sign either with his existing team or a new team under a new contract. |
Hometown discount |
A savings that occurs when a star professional athlete signs a new contract with his existing team for less than his expected value in the free agent market. |
Retirement |
When a professional athlete decides he does not want to play any longer. |
Trade |
When players on two or more teams switch teams. |
Roster |
A list of players on a team. |
Salary Cap |
The annual dollar limit that a single team may pay all its players. The main purpose of a salary cap is to maintain competitiveness within a league. |