Question

Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) set a new standard for non-wood baseball bats. Their goal was to ensure that aluminum and composite bats performed like wood bats in order to enhance player safety and reduce technology-driven home runs and other big hits. Marucci Sports, LLC, makes non-wood bats. Under the new standard, four of Marucci’s eleven products were decertified for use in high school and collegiate games. Marucci filed suit against the NCAA and the NFHS under Section 1 of the Sherman Act. At trial, Marucci’s evidence focused on injury to its own business. Did the NCAA and NFHS’s standard restrain trade in violation of the Sherman Act? Explain. [Marucci Sports, L.L.C. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 751 F.3d 368 (5th Cir. 2014)] (See Section 1 of the Sherman Act.)

Answer 1

Answer: No.

Explanation:

The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, later amended by the Clayton Act (1914) prohibits agreements in restraint of trade and monopolization. I expressely outlaws competing firms to conspire to consolidate the market by unfair means, restraining the trade of others.  

In this case, the standards for non-wood bats set by the NCAA and the NFHS are not meant to establish a monopoly and they don´t restrain Marucci´s trade.