I'm not trying to start an arguement but I looked it up on the California EDD website:
Professional Athlete Claims
A. General
Section 1253.4 of Calif. Unemp. Insurance Code provides:
Unemployment compensation benefits, extended duration benefits and federal-state extended benefits shall not be payable to any individual on the basis of any services, substantially all of which consist of participating in sports or athletic events or training or preparing to so participate, for any week which commences during the period between two successive sports seasons, or similar periods, if such individual performed such service in the first of such seasons, or similar periods, and there is reasonable assurance such individual will perform services in the later of such seasons, or similar periods.
Therefore, for the provisions of Section 1253.4 to be applicable, the following criteria must be present:
1. Substantially, all of the claimant’s services performed during the base period were as a sports participant, or training/preparing to participate.
2. The claimant performed "athletic" services in the prior season and is under contract to perform similar services in the succeeding season or has reasonable assurance of performing similar services the following season.
When an individual completes the season and his or her contract terminates, there is "reasonable assurance" so long as the individual affirmatively offers services as an athlete to the employer(s) and there is a strong indication that an employer(s) is intending to employ the individual.
Generally, the individual will be the best judge of whether he or she has a "reasonable assurance" of performing next season. Unless the individual’s assessment is inherently improbable, it will be accepted. For instance, a sports figure whose performance last season was outstanding is likely to have assurance of playing next season; any statement to the contrary should be examined closely.
3. Benefits are claimed for weeks commencing between successive sport seasons or similar periods in which the claimant will have performed as an athlete
The dates of the "season" and of the "recess" period should be confirmed with the claimant or the employer to verify that benefits are being claimed "between two successive sports seasons."
Professional Athlete Claims
A. General
Section 1253.4 of Calif. Unemp. Insurance Code provides:
Unemployment compensation benefits, extended duration benefits and federal-state extended benefits shall not be payable to any individual on the basis of any services, substantially all of which consist of participating in sports or athletic events or training or preparing to so participate, for any week which commences during the period between two successive sports seasons, or similar periods, if such individual performed such service in the first of such seasons, or similar periods, and there is reasonable assurance such individual will perform services in the later of such seasons, or similar periods.
Therefore, for the provisions of Section 1253.4 to be applicable, the following criteria must be present:
1. Substantially, all of the claimant’s services performed during the base period were as a sports participant, or training/preparing to participate.
2. The claimant performed "athletic" services in the prior season and is under contract to perform similar services in the succeeding season or has reasonable assurance of performing similar services the following season.
When an individual completes the season and his or her contract terminates, there is "reasonable assurance" so long as the individual affirmatively offers services as an athlete to the employer(s) and there is a strong indication that an employer(s) is intending to employ the individual.
Generally, the individual will be the best judge of whether he or she has a "reasonable assurance" of performing next season. Unless the individual’s assessment is inherently improbable, it will be accepted. For instance, a sports figure whose performance last season was outstanding is likely to have assurance of playing next season; any statement to the contrary should be examined closely.
3. Benefits are claimed for weeks commencing between successive sport seasons or similar periods in which the claimant will have performed as an athlete
The dates of the "season" and of the "recess" period should be confirmed with the claimant or the employer to verify that benefits are being claimed "between two successive sports seasons."
