Since the National Collegiate Athletic Association, also known as the NCAA, already extends scholarships and funds to pay for tuition, fees, room and board, and other allowable expenses, the NCAA should continue not to pay the student athletes who participate in athletics. College sports are called college sports because athletes that are in the NCAA are students and not professionals. Just like any other job you go to college to hone your skills and advance them for the future. The advantages student athletes receive from the NCAA are more than generous. According to the “National Collegiate Athletic Association” (ncaa.org), student athletes of the NCAA receive incredible benefits such as tuition coverage, academic success, scholarships, student assistance fund, medical care, support services, and preparation for life. Not all athletes receive equivalent scholarships as some other outstanding student athletes, but they are still receiving advantages over the average student.
What most student athletes are not aware of is that most college universities barely make enough money by the end of the season to break even. According to USA Today, “Just 23 of 228 athletics departments at NCAA Division 1 public schools generated enough money on their own to cover their expenses”, recorded in 2012. College athletes that are fighting to be paid by the NCAA need to recognize all of the benefits and opportunities that are being given that more than outweigh the need to pay the student athletes.
The NCAA has Student Assistance Funds available to student athletes that was recorded at $73,514,000 in 2013 of August. According to the Student Assistance Fund Guidelines, (ncaa.org/studentassistancefund), “the fund is intended to provide direct benefits to student-athletes or their families as determined by conference offices.” The Boston college university paid $2300 so one of its soccer players could go home and grieve in family tragedy. The fund is restricted from being used for salaries, benefits, capital improvements, and stipends by NCAA staff.
Although athletes receive great benefits from being a part of the NCAA, it is nearly impossible for most student athletes to balance school, football, and a job all at once. However it was recorded though that eight out of ten Division I student athletes earn their degrees, and graduate faster than regular college students. The rate of graduating student athletes is so high, because athletes have access to athlete focused academic advisors, and tutors to keep them on track. NCAA players are more than enough accommodated for their athletic performance for the school.
What NCAA players need to know is that the objective of the NCAA regulations are to maintain the amateur standing of college athletes, and to prevent other more well-funded schools to get all of the good players and in result the NCAA will act as a monopsony. If universities were allowed to buy off student athletes to come to their school then the competitiveness of college sports will reach a new level.
In testimonies said by NCAA president Mark Emmert, “College sports fans would be soured by competition if the college athletes were paid for their name, image, and likeness.” I strongly agree with Emmerts stand on the situation, because he highlights that if NCAA players were paid, then less funded universities would move toward a Division III school due to the fact that scholarships are not offered.
There are many who argue that college athletes need to be paid because the amount of time devoted to athletics does not allow them to seek part-time employment. These individuals feel that NCAA athletes do not have the same advantage of students who are not athletes, because college athletes do not have the same opportunity to earn extra money for food, clothing, or going out with friends. Students who receive a full-scholarship because of athletics may also fall short on tuition. According to the article, Point/Counterpoint: Paying College Athletes by Dr. Dennis A. Johnson, which was published in the Sports Journal, “ The Collegiate Athletes Coalition (CAC) estimates that NCAA scholarships are worth about $2,000 less than the cost of attending a university, as it does not account for expenses such as travel and sundries.” However, it is the choice of the athletes to participate and devote the amount of time it takes to compete athletically on a college level. The bottom line is there are many situations where college students are struggling financially, aside from athletes, and it is their responsibility to manage their time. It would be unfair to pay college athletes due to the fact they do not have enough time to earn extra money, and college athletes should not expect compensation for participating in a sport voluntarily while receiving an education, which is a privilege. For those who feel that payment should be allowed to pay for tuition, then those individuals should consider the vast amount of students who have to come up with much more in order to earn an education.
Higher education is something not every American is able to receive; it is an opportunity that not every American is afforded. The chance to earn a college education is still not possible for many Americans because the cost to attend higher learning institutions can be too much for some individuals to afford. NCAA collegiate athletes are able to earn an education, at a higher educational institution, primarily because of their athletic talent. Although NCAA collegiate athletes do not get paid, they do receive scholarships for their athletic participation. The cost of tuition, room and board, and books cost a great deal of money, and NCAA athletes are also exposed quality athletic trainers, tutors, and coaching. If the NCAA decides to enable colleges and universities to pay athletes, then higher educational institutions are lowering the value of scholarships.
There are some who feel that college athletes should be paid due to the amount of revenue they earn for their school. Although colleges are making a profit through athletes, it does not constitute a valid argument for why they should be paid to participate in their given sport. It may be true that college athletes acquire a profit for their schools through ticket sales and apparel sales, but higher educational institutions are providing an invaluable and powerful tool, which is an education. According to NCAA.org, “more than 90 percent of the NCAA’s revenue goes to support student athletes.” NCAA.org also reported there are more than 460,000 student athletes who participate in collegiate sports. It would seem that colleges already use a majority of the revenue acquired from athletics on athletes, so where would the additional funds that would be needed to pay students athletes come from? If student athletes start getting paid to play, then it could mean potential financial problems for higher educational institutions.
The primary reason NCAA athletes should not be paid is due to the fact that they are amateurs; they are not professional athletes. Professional athletes are paid to participate in their given sport as a full-time job. The purpose of a higher educational intuition is to provide students with an education. According to Dr. Johnson, “Although it is evident that there has been a failure to convince mush of the public of the true value of an education, keeping college athletes as pure armatures remains the right thing to do.” Higher educational institutions were not established for the purpose of providing entertainment through athletic competition with other schools. Student athletes are participating in an extra-curricular activity, which means athletics are not a required part of a curriculum. Student athletes should not be paid to participate in athletics because it is not their job to play sports, they are there to learn.
There is also controversy about how some college athletes are paid under the table. There have been numerous reports about colleges being fined due to violating NCAA guidelines, and some feel this would stop if the NCAA allowed colleges to pay student athletes. If the NCAA allows colleges to pay students athletes, the problem would still not be resolved. The fact is college athletes are students. They should not be bribed by money to attend college. Higher educational institutions need to make college athletes aware of the value in attaining a scholarship. According to the article Point/Counterpoint: Paying College Athletes by Dr. Dennis A. Johnson, which was published in the Sports Journal, “The fear of the NCAA, as is should be, is that the mere notion of paying college athletes undermines the university’s primary purpose-education, far more valuable than a modest annual stipend proposed by many.” Thousands of dollars are awarded to college athletes, because they play sports. If colleges also start to pay athletes to participate, then colleges are only lowering the value of scholarship.
The issue of paying college athletes has been long debated, and the debate on this subject will probably continue for some time. Individuals who have the talent to play sports in college are fortunate, because they can use their talent to gain an education. Many individuals would sacrifice a great deal to receive an education, but are not able to obtain one due to finances. Although the lives of college athletes consist of busy schedules and little free-time, these individuals are being awarded because of their talent. They are being awarded funds, through scholarships, to gain an education. The fact is being awarded the chance to gain an educational degree is payment.
Works Cited
"The Value of College Sports." NCAA Public Home Page. 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/value-college-sports-0
"Privilege, Not Job: College Athletes Shouldn't Be Paid." The Pendulum. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
http://www.elonpendulum.com/2014/04/college-athletes-shouldnt-paid/
"Student Assistance Fund Guidelines." NCAA.org. NCAA, 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. (Database)
Johnson, Dennis A. and Acquaviva, John. “Point/Counterpoint: Paying College Athletes.” The Sports Journal. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
http://thesportjournal.org/article/pointcounterpoint-paying-college-athletes
Norlander, Matt. "Emmert Testimony: College Athletes Should Not Be Paid for Name/image."
CBSSports.com. 1 June 2014. Web. 14 Nov. 2014. (Article)
Ohr, Peter. "NLRB.gov." Chicago. National Labor Relations Board. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
http://www.nlrb.gov/region/chicago
Upton, Steve, and Erik Sports. "Most NCAA Division I Athletic Departments Take Subsidies." USA Today. Gannett, 1 July 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2013/05/07/ncaa-finances-subsidies/2142443/
