CALL US 24/7 AT 203-946-2000

A MESSAGE TO ATHLETES AND THOSE INVOLVED IN SPORTS

If you’re an athlete or involved in sports — whether as a coach, administrator, athletic trainer, referee/umpire, equipment manager, or journalist — you understand the mindset and culture that makes playing a sport so uniquely compelling.

Athletes tend to be motivated, competitive, and leaders. And because of these positive characteristics, they’re often held out as role models by their schools, clubs and leagues.

Yet, they also tend to be risk takers. And that, combined with the intense desire to win or beat your previous best; the long hours at the expense of other interests; the injuries and physical pain; and wanting to please coaches, teammates, family, and spectators can make competitive athletics extremely stressful.

Felice Duffy title ix defense attorney poses next to her athletic jersey.

I know this first-hand. And it’s why I am especially passionate about defending the rights of athletes, former athletes, and those whose lives revolve around sports. There’s a certain kind of familiarity and understanding that individuals in athletics recognize in each other. They get it about the importance of teamwork in meeting a tough challenge.

And make no mistake: clients who come to me are facing tough legal challenges, whether having to do with state or federal criminal charges, college or university conduct code violations, or Title IX actions ranging from campus sexual assault to hazing to gender discrimination in athletics.

So the shorthand version of my life in sports is this: I filed an action against UCONN in 1978 under the then-new Title IX statute to compel the creation of a woman’s soccer team. I served as its captain for three years and was named a first-team All American and was selected to be on the very first U.S. National Women’s team. I got a variety of national and international coaching licenses and was the head coach of the Yale Women’s soccer team for 10 years, during which time I earned my Ph.D. in Sports Psychology from UCONN. (You can read more details at the bottom of this page.)

The point is that I get it. The world of competitive athletics is exhilarating, demanding, and stressful. And sometimes the same kind of “go for it” energy that can serve you well in your athletic life can lead to choices and actions off the field that wind up being mistakes (and often costly mistakes).

If you’re an athlete or are involved in sports and you have been charged with any crime or a college disciplinary code violation, whether related to sports or not, you need an attorney who’s not only accomplished in the law, but one who also understands sports culture and will team with you to craft an effective defense that capitalizes on your unique strengths.

Call me at 203.946.2000

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

• University of Connecticut Women’s Varsity Soccer Team 3 years (club 2 years):

  • 3rd Place National Tournament AIAW
  • All-America 1st Team
  • U.S. Region I Team
  • All New England
  • AIAW National Tournament/All- Tournament Team
  • Senior Recognition Award
  • Student Leader Award
  • MVP
  • Captain (5 years)

• U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team

• Connecticut and Northeast Regional Soccer Hall of Fame

Additional Playing Experience

  • Eastern Regional Team
  • Connecticut/Massachusetts State Select Teams
  • U.S. Select Team- Scandinavian Tour
  • Soccer Plus, Botra Bolts and many other club teams

COACHING EXPERIENCE

• Head Coach Yale University Women’s Soccer Team

  • Rebuilt the program and improved Ivy League standing from last place to Ivy League Champions
  • Ranked 17th in the nation in ISAA poll (1992)
  • Ranked 4th in the Northeast Region; ISAA & NEWISA polls
  • Recorded the most wins in the history of the team
  • Selected as New England Coach of the Year by NSCAA & NEWISA
  • Coached 1991, 1992 and 1993 Ivy League Player of the Year
  • Awarded NSCAA-ISAA Team Ethics Award of Merit 1992
  • Five former Yale assistants at Head Coaching positions

• USISL Professional Women’s Soccer Coach – Mississippi

• Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Yale University- all 33 sports, including football

Additional Soccer Experience

  • Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame Nomination Committee
  • NSCAA Division 1 Women’s Sub-Committee Member
  • NSCAA Panelist/ NSCAA Convention
  • ISAA Region 1 Rating Committee
  • NSCAA All-America Regional Chairperson
  • Guest Lecturer at NEWISA Annual Meeting
  • Coach for North Team at Senior Bowl
  • ISAA Senior Recognition Committee
  • ISAA Region 11 Rating Committee
  • Special Olympic Sport Psychology Consultant
  • Soccer Plus Amateur; Botra Bolts Amateur; Connecticut Soccer Club – Coach/Manager
  • ODP U-17 Girl’s Head Coach (Connecticut)
  • ODP U- 14 Girls Head Coach
  • ODP Open Women’s Coach
  • USSF “E” License Coaching Staff
  • USSF Olympic Development Clinician
  • Director of Lanzera National Select Camp for Girls
  • Guilford U-19 Girls Premier Club
  • NAGWS Clinician. San Francisco, California
  • U12 Fall Westport Girls Soccer Club
  • U-11 Spring Westport Girls Soccer Club

OTHER SPORTS POSITIONS

  • Yale University, Senior Assistant Athletic Director
  • Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, Director of Inner City Soccer Program
  • New Haven Detention Center, Director of Sports Intervention Pilot Program
  • High School Soccer Referee

ATHLETIC LICENSES

  • National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced National Diploma
  • U.S. Soccer Federation Coaching School “A” License
  • Scottish International Coaching School “B” License
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

• PhD IN EDUCATION/SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

SPORTS-RELATED ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

  • Univ. of Connecticut Allied Health Department – Lecturer on Helpseeking for Athletic Injuries
  • Presenter at AMA International Symposium for Head and Neck Injuries in Sport- Atlanta, Georgia
  • Consultant on layout for Sports Rehabilitation Center
  • Presenter- Helpseeking for Athletic Injuries to Yale University Athletic Medicine Staff and New Haven Orthopedic Group
  • Research Assistant- Department of Sports Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center
  • Author, Psychological Predictors of the Chronically Injury Prone Athlete, Head and Neck Injuries in Sport (Earl F. Hoerner, ed., 1994).
  • Author, Twenty-Seven Years After Title IX: Why Gender Equity in College Athletics Does Not Exist 19 Quinnipiac Law Review 67 (2000).

How Can We Help?

How Can We Help?