What is a holdout in sports?

Here we explain what a “holdout” is in sports, including the different kinds, repercussions for holding out, and more.

What is a holdout?

A holdout is when a professional athlete, traditionally in American team sports, does not report to mandatory team activities, such as practices or games, or fulfill the terms of their contract.

Most of the time, a player “holds out” when seeking a new, more lucrative contract. Players can also hold out when seeking a trade to another team.

In both instances, the point of the holdout is to send a message to the team’s front office, who have the power to give a new contract or make a trade, and so the player avoids risking injury before they get what they want.

While it can affect the private and public perception of a player, holding out is considered commonplace for rising or established star players who are underpaid compared to their peers.

Typically, a holdout ends when a player signs a new contract or is traded, although some will return to team activities without getting what they want. Others have held out for the entire season.

Penalties for holding out

Penalties for player holdouts vary by sport and typically include a fine or loss of pay. Each league’s penalties are determined by their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

In the NFL, the league with the most holdouts per year, financial penalties vary based on the player’s existing contract terms, time in the league, when they were drafted and more.

For example, an NFL player who is on a “veteran” contract is fined $50,000 per day of mandatory practice missed. For players who signed as an unrestricted free agent, missing a preseason game incurs a fine of 1/18th of the player’s salary, along with $50,000 per mandatory practice missed. Former first-round picks holding out for their second contract are fined $40,000 per practice missed, although a team can waive those penalties.

The above detail just a few of the many stipulations that come into play when an NFL team fines a player for holding out.

Holdouts are far less common in the NBA, MLB and NHL, but they do still happen.

In the NBA, holdouts typically happen when a player wants to be traded. In 2022, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons was fined $360,000 per game missed while holding out following a trade request.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander held out for the first 27 games of the 2018/19 season, although no team-imposed fines were reported.

Of course, penalties are meant to discourage holdouts, but often they don’t, especially with star player who can afford to pay fines.

What is a hold-in?

A “hold-in” is when a player who is in a contract dispute does attend mandatory team activities, such as a training camp, but does not participate in them.

Holding in has become common in the NFL for players who do not want to incur fines. When a player is in attendance but does not partake in practice, they are not fined.

Sometimes, a player is so fed up with their team or situation, or simply don’t care about paying fines, and will not show up at all.

David Schneidman

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