Some argue that paying student-athletes will make way for a more transparent usage of NCAAs revenue. Another argument is that for the majority of athletes, a free pass to college is their way out of their financial hardship. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Takeaway: For the NCAA, student-athletes should be playing sports with education as its primary driver. A 2017 NCAA survey revealed that Division I athletes dedicate an average of 35 hours per week to their sport during the season. However, it would not allow for a more visible use of the NCAAs budget. And spare me the theyre being extorted thing. They argue that athletes receive sufficient education-related benefits and that universities should not pay athletes. The NBA requires players to be at least 19 and a year out of high school, while the NFL requires players to be three years out of high school. WebCollege athletics have received magnificent popularity among americans above the past few years.This has resulted into improved revenues for the (NCAA) then the taking part colleges who have argued the debate regarding whether college athletes should be payed past their athletic scholarships.This informative essay on the topic Should College athletes However, college athletes, arguably the stars of the show who earn millions year after year for the well-paid NCAA executives, coaches, and staff, were forbidden by the NCAA from not only being paid for their work-, but from seeking other related compensation such as endorsement deals. If college athletes get paid, they will be more in control of their subjects. about whether the NCAA is violating antitrust laws by restricting college athletes compensation. The NCAA also does not prohibit schools from canceling injured athletes scholarships, leaving athletes without a sport or education. This would possibly increase graduation rates, allow fans to see their favorite players mature through college, and ensure coaches are preparing athletes as much as possible for the next level. 1. As university leaders wait patiently for federal guidelines promising to corral some of the chaos, the free market will continue to dictate individual and institutional fortunes. A handful of big On a side note, this would incentivize athletes to complete their degree, making them more employable after the end of their athletic career. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the top two college football positionsthe quarterback and wide receiverwere worth $2.4 million and $1.3 million per year respectively, while starting mens basketball players in the Power Five schools were worth between $800,000 and $1.2 million per year. [3], California was the first state to pass a NIL (name, image, and likeness) law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. More broadly, a study showed that when a football team "rises from mediocre to great," applications increase 18.7%. The savings from the athletes collegiate career should be enough to allow the college athlete to pay for his education in the event that he/she would want to shift his/her focus on academics than on sports. [32] Discrepancies between mens and womens sports such as the weight room during the 2021 NCAA basketball tournament would only worsen. Theres an important role for college sports in higher education, and that role needs to be placed in the proper perspective as part of the educational mission, not apart from it. [37]. [23]. Student-athletes are students first and foremost, attending college primarily to receive an education and secondarily to compete in their sport. The main argument against paying college athletes is that this would lead to legal issues threatening collegiate sports integrity. For example, will the star quarterback receive the same amount as the backup catcher on the softball team? Here Are Some Pros and Cons HuffPost, Should College Athletes Be Paid? Many former collegiate players were compensated, but some felt it was inadequate and they were owed more. If adopted, the rule would only apply to Division I schools and would be temporary until the NCAA or Congress acts. There are a number of great reasons to pay college athletes, many of which will not only improve the lives of student-athletes, but also improve the product on the field and in the arena. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. [20], The highest paid mens basketball coach was the University of Kentucky head coach, John Calipari, who was paid $8.2 million per year. Rent-Sharing in Modern College Sports, nber.org, Oct. 2020, Tommy Beer, NCAA Athletes Could Make $2 Million A Year If Paid Equitably, Study Suggests, forbes.com, Sep. 1, 2020, NCPA, Study: "The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport" - 9/13/2011, ncpanow.org, Sep. 13, 2011, Mary Kate McCoy, Survey: Nearly a Quarter of Division I Athletes Face Food Insecurity, wpr.org, May 6, 2020, NCAA, Scholarships, ncaa.org (accessed Mar. Over the years we have seen and heard scandals involving players taking money and even point-shaving. For example, fair market value for a University of Texas football player was $513,922. Some are calling him the next LeBron James. Similarly, will compensation take into account talent? Currently, the government is working with lawyers, psychologists, philosophers, economists, and many geniuses to one day improve if not finally decide which is the right choice: to pay student-athletes or not. Data analyzed from the Department of Labor showed nine out of 10 new jobs were going to employees with college degrees in June 2018. While the Court's decision doesn't necessarily permit colleges to pay athletes salaries, it does allow them to compensate students for "education-related benefits" including paid internships, study abroad programs, tutoring computers, equipment, and graduate scholarships. Since the ruling, college athletes have been cashing in on NIL deals, with a few resulting in seven-figure incomes. African Americans make up the majority of college athletes at the top levels in three major sports: mens and womens basketball (Division I) and the upper FBS level of the NCAAs Division I, according to Travis Waltons HuffPost article Black Americans Support Paying College Athletes. [1] As of Mar. Is it because its unnecessary? Erin McGeoy, a former water polo athlete at George Washington University, explained, a common occurrence was that we would run out of meal money halfway through the semester and thats when I started to run into troubles of food insecurity. She turned to boarding dogs in her no-dogs-allowed apartment in order to pay rent because housing costs increased each year but her housing allowance remained static. Pending further testing, the general sense is that Williamson and Duke, and Nike, which made the shoe had avoided the worst. Many of them dont want to go already, combined with the fact that some may be receiving grades without doing any work. On June 30, 2021, fewer than 12 hours before some states NIL laws went into effect, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors issued an interim ruling stating that Bylaw 12 (the rules that say athletes cannot receive payment) will not be enforced. A 2011 study published by the National College Players Association (NCPA) found that an overwhelming number of students on full athletics scholarships live below the federal poverty line85% of athletes who live on campus and 86% athletes who live off-campus. The most noticeable victory for athletes occurred in 2019, when California Governor, Gavin Newsom, signed legislation effectively allowing college athletes in the state to earn compensation for the use of their likeness, sign endorsement deals, and hire agents to represent them. Its a legitimate question, said Ramogi Huma, the founder and president of the College Athletes Players Association, an advocate for players rights. However, if the situation is similar with the football team of Northwestern University, schools would have access to raw sports talents. If each https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/learning/should-college-athletes-be-paid.html. California was the first state to pass a NIL (name, image, and likeness) law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023. WebCollege athletes shouldnt be compensated for playing sports at the collegiate level, but for their advertisement and use of their names in video games and products. WebCollege athletes are allowed to compete in the Olympic Games and be financially compensated, such as Joseph Schooling, a University of Texas swimmer, who earned a $740,000 bonus for winning Singapores first gold medal ever at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Its just not less-popular sports that paying athletes could threatenwomens programs could also find themselves in the crosshairs of budget-conscious administrators. Find out more information about athletic scholarships. The scene is played out nationwide that same day across dozens of U.S. college campuses packed stadiums, network contracts, apparel deals, wealthy coaches. Its hard to ignore the racist undertones when the financial benefit to these institutions is based on the unpaid work of young Black men. [22], The NCAA requires players to have health insurance but does not pay for that insurance and can refuse to pay medical expenses for sports injuries, some of which can have life-long consequences for the players bodies and career opportunities. If the bill passes, the law will go into effect on January 1, 2023. But as we've discussed, this is seldom the case most athletes only receive partial scholarships. According to the same article, A majority 52% of black respondents are strongly or somewhat in favor of paying college athletes, while only 15% strongly or somewhat oppose the idea. Why, They Already Are, Theres No Crying in College: The Case Against Paying College Athletes. It also raised an important question: Should Williamson ever suit up for another college game? 4. Fans were asking the question. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) generates eleven billion dollars annually, some of which could, and should go to college athletes. Colleges reap billions from these student athletes sacrifices and success but, in the same breath, block them from earning a single dollar. [13] [14] [41], Gabe Feldman, JD, Professor of Sports Law, Director of the Sports Law Program and Associate Provost for NCAA compliance at Tulane University, noted that the last time the NCAA was at the Supreme Court was in 1984 (NCAA vs. the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma). Maybe as Much as He Loves Playing. A look at the professional ranks bolsters Cowherds argument about athletes frivolous spending. Athletes constantly risk injury and therefore deserve proper compensation. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Tuition shortfalls amount to thousands of dollars per year and leave about 85% of players to live below the poverty line. WebPeople should be paid for their labor and the value it brings to organizations. In Cowherds words: I dont think paying all college athletes is great Not every college is loaded, and most 19-year-olds [are] gonna spend itand lets be honest, theyre gonna spend it on weed and kicks! Nathan Brunner is a labor market expert. For BC, the effect was a 30% increase in applications over two years. Whats the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom? Scores of college athletes are being used to generate money for NCAA sports in a pandemic without the NCAA enforcing any COVID standards. [17], The NCAA reported over $1.06 billion in revenue in 2017 (the most recent available numbers). 3. He has 30 years of experience in higher education as a university administrator and faculty member and teaches writing at Johns Hopkins University. Pros: The ruling is a massive win for student athletes, of course. Limits corruption from external influences Compensating athletes in college will limit the corruption involving agents, boosters and others. Full scholarship itself is a misnomer; the same study found that the average annual scholarship for FBS athletes on full scholarships was actually $3,222. On Feb. 20, less than a minute into a nationally televised game against archrival North Carolina, Williamson injured his right knee when one of his Nike sneakers exploded. (Watch here to see what happened to the shoe.) And ever since that 1984 decision, courts have been relying on that language to try to interpret antitrust law applies to all NCAA restrictions, including player compensation., On June 21, 2021, the US Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the NCAA cannot ban certain payments to student athletes under the premise of maintaining amateurism. An N.B.A. Is it unfair? Takeaway: Athletes bring in a huge portion of educational institutions income. A handful of big sports programs would pay top dollar for a select few athletes, while almost every other college would get caught up in a bidding war it couldnt afford. Without them, sponsors would be scarce, and funding for facilities that would benefit the entire student body would be subpar or non-existent. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free. Unfair compensation between players How will players be compensated? As of June 10, 2021, 18 states have passed NIL laws; five more states have passed bills that were awaiting the governors signature to become law; 14 states have introduced NIL bills; and one state has a bill passed by the Senate and awaiting a House vote, according to the Business of College Sports. Recommendation: Find College Student Jobs on Salarship. Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admissionand how to improve them. The NCAA is seemingly the final authority to decide whether college athletes should be paid to play college sports. Financial irresponsibility Amateur players receiving compensation just seems like a complete disaster. [36], Amy Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, said of the Gallup findings, Its a positive report for the educational benefits for college sports, and it reinforces the point that weve tried to make over the years. College athletes make their schools millions of dollars, so they should naturally receive a cut of the action. Very few college athletes will go pro, so athletes should take advantage of the education being offered in exchange for playing a college sport. Although the odds of a college athlete turning pro are low, the probability of them earning a degree is high, thanks in part to the academic support athletes are given. As John Thelin, PhD, Research Professor of History of Higher Education & Public Policy at the University of Kentucky, explained, paying salaries to players will increase [athletic] program expenditures without necessarily increasing revenues [and] a handful of powerful programs will stand to gain in competition for athletic talent simply because they can afford to pay salaries. The odds are even lower for womens basketball at 0.6%. WebPeople who believe that college athletes should not be paid often point out that professional athletes in the major sports can make millions of dollars. To fix the problem, and separate athletes who are getting an education just because they want to play a sport from those who actually want to go to college, the United States needs a true amateur or minor league that feeds into professional sports. Rules," nytimes.com, June 30, 2021, Becky Sullivan, "UNC Becomes the First School to Organize Group Endorsement Deals for Its Players," npr.org, July 21, 2021, Josh Moody, "Lack of Clear-Cut NCAA Rules Creates Confusion about NIL," insidehighered.com, Jan. 4, 2022. If college athletes were to get paid, then large, well-funded schools such as those of the Power Five would be best positioned to acquire top talent and gain a competitive advantage. Consider the pro position of the National College Players Association that paying college athletes is a civil rights issue. These scholarships, which aren't guaranteed, are awarded year to year and can be rescinded for numerous reasons, including injuries. Similarly, if a team improves its win total by five games in a season, alumni donations go up 28%. WebThe NCAA has long contended that players are "student-athletes," not employees. And that doesn't include income from broadcasting rights and corporate sponsorships. Feldman explained, That was a shape-shifting decision that in many ways fundamentally changed economics of college football and college football television. Everyone around them makes money, but the students responsible for generating revenue receive nothing. WebJim Putman & Aubrey Badlam ENGL101- Prof. Yu College Athletes Should Be Paid To Play One of the biggest debates in sports is whether college athletes also referred to, as student-athletes should be paid to play their sport. Of the roughly 1,100 athletic programs governed by the NCAA, only 25 had a net positive revenue in 2019. Its regulations state, "You are not eligible for participation in a sport if you have ever taken pay, or the promise of pay, for competing in that sport [or] used your athletics skill for pay in any form in that sport. A decision is expected in June 2021. Everyone, that is, except the players. Huma cited the example of a top football player who found himself with a more serious injury a few years ago; that player elected to end his college career prematurely, to limit the risk to his professional payday. Even though athletes are compensated with scholarships, it is often not sufficient to graduate debt-free from college. Students 13 and older are invited to comment. Even as a former college athlete, I am at a point in my life where I can understand each side. The NCAA limits in-season practice time to 20 hours a week, but a 2008 NCAA report shows that in-season student-athletes commonly spent upward of 30 and 40 hours a week engaged in athletic activities.. Only about 1% of student-athletes receive a full scholarship.. NCAA is a non-profit organization. Our peer review tool allows you to receive feedback and learn the strengths and weaknesses of your essay for free. Against this backdrop, here are both sides of the issue. Paying college athletes would not solve the real problem: the American amateur sports system is broken. Participating in intercollegiate athletics constitutes a full-time job. Billions of dollars are swirling around college sports, and everyone is getting a piece of the action. The top 25 football coaches take home an average of $5.2 million, while the top 25 basketball coaches bring in $3.2 million. While this is something admirable, All rights reserved. A likely scenario would involve universities cutting minor sports to pay athletes competing in the marquee sports. The opportunity cost of not working is considerable. Group licensing deals in theory can allow lesser-known players to reap the benefits of appearing alongside a well-known player. Find The Perfect Job: 201,546 College Student Jobs Are Available on Salarship. And if theyre unable to play, they will lose their athletic scholarship. At 6 feet 7 inches and 285 pounds, Williamson, a freshman basketball player at Duke University, is impressing fans with his combination of size, strength and leaping ability. player was, too, even before Duke announced that Williamson had sprained his right knee in the fall. Programs like football and mens basketball would likely benefit greatly, but smaller, unprofitable sports such as gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling could find themselves at best cash-strapped and, at the worst, cut altogether. [25] [26], The study found that [t]he player-level analysis reveals that the existing limits on player compensation effectively transfers resources away from students who are more likely to be black and more likely to come from poor neighborhoods towards students who are more likely to be white and come from higher-income neighborhoods. [25], College athletes are required to make up the difference between NCAA scholarships and the actual cost of living. Its not just the time commitment that playing college athletics puts on student-athletes, its the risk to their health. Introduced in February by Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the bill promises to be one of the most expansive yet in terms of getting college athletes officially recognized as employees. This isnt something new. Most players have no real amateur sport option and those who would rather not go to college have no other established feeder system to make it to a professional team. 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