Should all athletes be paid? [40], Paying players would also limit the literal and figurative playing fields to elite universities with large budgets. The top 25 football coaches take home an average of $5.2 million, while the top 25 basketball coaches bring in $3.2 million. This would also help keep top talents playing for college teams, improve the level of competition, and potentially lead to even higher revenue. The issue is that college sports are not just about athletes competing against each other anymore. Maybe as Much as He Loves Playing. College athletic programs collected $14 billion in total revenue in 2019, not including income from broadcasting rights and corporate sponsorships.. NCAA is a non-profit organization. As mentioned before, college athletes can put in upward of 40 hours a week practicing, training, and competingbeing a student-athlete is a challenge when youre devoting full-time hours to athletics. Compensating athletes for their contribution would only be fair. Fans were asking the question. A 2009-2010 CDC report found that more than 210,000 injuries are sustained by NCAA student-athletes each year. Will the All-American point guard get the same amount as the captain of the swim team? Or is a college scholarship and other non-monetary perks like the opportunity to play in front of cheering fans enough? That adds up to about $400,000 a year. WebPro According to N.C.A.A. Schools would also have to cut unprofitable sports including gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Against this backdrop, here are both sides of the issue. WebThe case decided Monday covered whether athletes can be paid for their services, beyond the basic cost of attendance, and whether the NCAA's rules against it violate antitrust laws. Student athletes and their parents have likely heard that the NCAA has opened the door to allow collegiate athletes the ability to profit off their name, image and likeness. Many advocates against paying college athletes state that athletic scholarships are sufficient compensation for the athletes. When college scholarships are non-existent, student-athletes may prefer to play simply because of the pay that comes with it. Anyone can read what you share. WebPeople should be paid for their labor and the value it brings to organizations. "This is an important day for college athletes since they all are now able to take advantage of name, image, and likeness opportunities," NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. [28]. What about the top level talent? Keep in mind, it was just in March 2021 that the NCAA made national news for its unequal treatment of the mens and womens NCAA basketball tournaments. That means all of its income should be spent on collegiate sports organizations. College Athletes Getting Paid? Historically, the debates over paying college athletes have only led to more questions, which is why its raged on for more than a century. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. 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.. Theres a feeling that paying college athletes sends the wrong message and incentivizes them to focus on athletics instead of academics, when the reality is that very few college athletes will go on to play sports professionally. The NCAA is not above the law. [43] [44], On June 28, 2021, the NCAA Division I Council recommended to the NCAA Division I Board of Directors that student athletes be allowed to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Whats the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom? There are two main reasons why college athletes should be paid. A former columnist for The Chronicle Reece Johnson is the managing editor for news, issues, and trends. We do have hungry nights that we dont have enough money to get food in. Will all college athletes get compensated equally? A 2019 Seton Hall Sports Poll found that 60% of those surveyed agreed that college athletes should be allowed compensation for their name, image, and/or likeness, while 32% disagreed, and 8% were unsure. NCAA mens basketball players have even slimmer odds of playing in a major professional league (1.2%), while the chances of a professional career are particularly grim for women basketball players, at a mere 0.8%. [38] These rules can effectively limit players options to playing in college or choosing another profession altogether. Over the years we have seen and heard scandals involving players taking money and even point-shaving. 1. The highest-paid college football coachthe University of Alabamas Nick Sabanearns $9.3 million a year and is the highest-paid public employee in the country. While theNCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) earns billions in revenue, it prohibits athletes from earning a single penny. According to data released by the NCAA, 90% of Division I athletes enrolled in 2013 earned a degree within six years. 3. It would eliminate the line between amateur and professional sports. 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. [15], 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. The main argument against paying college athletes is that this would lead to legal issues threatening collegiate sports integrity. [3], California was the first state to pass a NIL (name, image, and likeness) law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023. As Jon Solomon, Editorial Director for the Sports and Society Program at the Aspen Institute explained, The most glaring example occurred when the University of North Carolina was found by outside parties to have organized fake classes that enabled dozens of athletes to gain and maintain their eligibility of the 3,100 students who took the fake classes over 18 years, 47.4 percent were athletes North Carolina avoided NCAA penalties by essentially arguing that the NCAA should stay out of irregularities in college courses. [24] The NCAA polices athletes finances but does not ensure a quality education. WebBecause so many athletic departments run at a deficit, it's difficult to make the case that schools should pay regular salaries to athletes, even football players who produce more 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. 31, 2021 as the NCAA March Madness tournament headed into Final Four games just days later, on Apr. [23]. player was, too, even before Duke announced that Williamson had sprained his right knee in the fall. To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, discussion questions, and ways to take action on the issue of paying college athletes, go to ProCon.org. rules, college athletes are not to receive any windfall from any merchandise sold- even if they are the only reason people buy it. He walked off the court, and did not return. 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). Aaron M. Sprecher/AP. Takeaway: College athletes learn less than regular students. However, if the situation is similar with the football team of Northwestern University, schools would have access to raw sports talents. What if the coach's son plays on the team? 4. Of the roughly 1,100 athletic programs governed by the NCAA, only 25 had a net positive revenue in 2019. Why, They Already Are, Theres No Crying in College: The Case Against Paying College Athletes. But I do find it interesting as to why so many are widely opposed to this idea. Williamson fell backward in a split, grabbing his right knee. 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. 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. Athletes constantly risk injury and therefore deserve proper compensation. Might some form of financial compensation make this compromise easier to take? 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. From a students point of view, paying college athletes will alter their college experience. The average athletic scholarship is roughly $18,000. If college students challenge this prohibition, they will no longer be qualified to participate in any of the events organized by the NCAA. A 2014 CNBC article estimated that Andrew Wiggins, a University of Kansas forward (and soon-to-be first-overall draft pick), had a fair market value of around $1.6 million. Do You Want to Find College Student Jobs? 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]. Takeaway: College is expensive. Universities best positioned to pay athletes top dollar would win bidding wars and recruiting battles against institutions with limited budgets. [18] [19], Michael Sokolove, author of The Last Temptation of Rick Pitino (2018), explained, If you look at a program like [University of] Louisville, they generate about $45 million a year in revenue. Is the third-string left guard worth as much as the starting quarterback? He has 30 years of experience in higher education as a university administrator and faculty member and teaches writing at Johns Hopkins University. Check out these other CollegeVine articles for ideas: History of the Debate: Should College Athletes Be Paid? Explore the NCAA site and think critically about the organization as the governing body of college athletics. In contrast, the likelihood of an NCAA athlete earning a college degree is significantly greater; graduation success rates are 86% in Division I, 71% in Division II and 87% in Division III. [34]. Not likely from the school itself. A weighty argument against paying college athletes is that not all sports are popular. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. 3, 2021), NCAA, NCAA Defends Scholarships for College Athletes, ncaaorg (accessed Mar. A 2017 study found that 91% of former college football players who had died had CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to dementia. Exactly who gets paid and how much? 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. That's just the institutional side of it. This was quite a change from polling conducted in 2017, when 60% believed college scholarships were enough compensation for college athletes. Group licensing deals in theory can allow lesser-known players to reap the benefits of appearing alongside a well-known player. Find out more information about athletic scholarships. It does not go to the players, what I call the unpaid workforce. [3], As of Nov. 17, 2020, the University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban was the highest paid NCAA college football coach, making $9.3 million per year. Since the ruling, college athletes have been cashing in on NIL deals, with a few resulting in seven-figure incomes. In the first minute of top-ranked Dukes game against its archrival, eighth-ranked North Carolina, Williamson, a 6-fotot-7, 285-pound forward whose game is a blend of quickness and power, pivoted with the ball near the free-throw line. A handful of big It is the latest chapter of an athlete rights movement that has generated Does this rule apply to payment structures, too, though? Below are a few potential pros and cons of paying college athletes. [32] Discrepancies between mens and womens sports such as the weight room during the 2021 NCAA basketball tournament would only worsen. Takeaway: Paying student-athletes would reduce NCAAs spending on expensive facilities. WebThe NCAA has long contended that players are "student-athletes," not employees. 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. College athletes are on the verge of being able to make money off their fame as the rules that have governed college sports for more than a century are upended. 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. According to the NCAA, the organization provides more than $3.6 billion in athletic scholarships annually to more than 180,000 student-athletes. Divided equitably, each student would receive about $20,000 per year. 3, 2021), John Thelin, Paying College Athletes, insidehighered.com, Feb. 12, 2018, NCAA, Estimated Probability of Competing in Professional Athletics, ncaa.org, Apr. And not, of course, from the NCAA. However, in 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Fair Play Act that allows college athletes to hire agents, sign endorsement deals, and be paid for the use of their likeness. A 2017 NCAA survey revealed that Division I athletes dedicate an average of 35 hours per week to their sport during the season. The Fair Pay to Play Act would enable athletes at California schools earning more than $10 million in annual media revenue to make money from their likenesses and hire agents without losing eligibility. 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. The case, NCAA vs. Alston et al named for former West Virginia University football player Shawne Alston, one of several athletes who initiated the suit centered on student-athletes from Division I men's and women's basketball and FBS football. 1, 2021], Jessica Gresko, High Court Agrees to Hear NCAA Athlete Compensation Case, nsjonline.com, Dec. 16, 2020, Daniel Roberts, Poll: 60% of Americans Support College Athletes Getting Paid Endorsements, finance.yahoo.com, Oct. 8, 2019, NCPA, NCAA Refusal to Vote on NIL Pay Is Slap in the Face to Athletes, ncpanow.org, Jan. 11, 2021, Bloomberg, The NCAA Raked in Over $1 Billion Last Year, fortune.com, Mar. Respondents were split 50/50 in a June 1, 2021 New York Times survey about whether the NCAA strictly limiting paid compensation is constitutional. Sometimes, theres hungry nights where Im not able to eat, but I still gotta play up to my capabilities.. 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. Should college athletes be paid? More broadly, a study showed that when a football team "rises from mediocre to great," applications increase 18.7%. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. Divisions II and III of the NCAA followed suit and the changes went into effect for all three divisions on July 1, 2021. Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, stated, traditions alone cannot justify the NCAAs decision to build a massive money-raising enterprise on the backs of student athletes who are not fairly compensated. Players are awash in Nike gear owing to the apparel giant's $174 million deal with Michigan and $252 million deal with Ohio State. Many of them dont want to go already, combined with the fact that some may be receiving grades without doing any work. Very few college athletes will go pro, so athletes should take advantage of the education being offered in exchange for playing a college sport. WebShould College Athletes Be Paid? Another argument in favor of paying student-athletes is that these students sacrifice their studies to play at a competitive level. We explore the pros and cons and conclude that college students have a right to be paid. Per N.C.A.A. We Consider the elite players in The decision also opened the door for name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. At this point, the debate over whether college athletes should be paid really doesn't change anything. Just because there are rules prohibiting the compensation of college athletes doesnt mean it doesnt happen, and over the years there have been numerous scandals. WebAccording 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 draft where he will likely be the No. This argument holds true especially for football and basketball players, [21], Azmatullah Hussaini, MD, President of the New York/New Jersey chapter of the American Muslim Health Professionals, and Jules Lipoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, offered additional context: especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, [g]iven that athletes are disproportionately Black in the biggest revenue-generating sports football and basketball this dynamic also evokes Americas horrific history of unpaid slave labor. I mean the bottom line is, isnt this what they deserve for their labor? They argue that athletes receive sufficient education-related benefits and that universities should not pay athletes. Students 13 and older are invited to comment. [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). According to CNBC, 60% of NBA players go broke within five years of departing the league and 78% of former NFL players experience financial distress two years after retirement. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. 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. Sometimes money is needed. Everyone around them makes money, but the students responsible for generating revenue receive nothing. So they think that tournament, which begins in a month. Essay Example, with Outline Published by gudwriter on November 23, November 23, Here is an essay example on whether college athletes should be paid or not. [25] [26], If college players earned about 50% of their teams revenues like the NFL and NBA players do, the average football players yearly salary would be $360,000 and the average basketball players yearly salary would be $500,000. WebList of the Cons of Paying College Athletes 1. Many are captivated by his thrilling monster dunks. 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. But as we've discussed, this is seldom the case most athletes only receive partial scholarships. 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. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. This is something that has been a growing issue in recent years. On the sidelines, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh (salary: $8 million) and his counterpart, Ryan Day (salary: $5.7 million), finalize their game plans. College sports, particularly football, are a big deal and a big business. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. What determines how much each player should earn? Managing Editor Why Are There Nine Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court? OBannon and 19 others sued the NCAA, claiming the organization violated United States antitrust laws by not allowing athletes to get a share of the revenues generated from the use of their images in broadcasts and video games. Even if a student receives a full-ride scholarship, the award doesn't provide pocket money for incidentals and entertainment. She lost the case, but future generations would have more success and have slowly whittled away at arguments against paying athletes. 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. Is it unfair? But some are. Money will only add to this fact. Governor of California Gavin Newsom, stated, Collegiate student athletes put everything on the line their physical health, future career prospects and years of their lives to compete. Williamson, widely considered the nations best college player, is expected to be available to Duke in time for its conference tournament or the N.C.A.A. Even though athletes are compensated with scholarships, it is often not sufficient to graduate debt-free from college. Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate. How should the NCAA (or another governing body) balance college athletes sport, educational, and financial interests? In Zion Williamsons Injury Has Some Saying He Should Quit Duke, Marc Tracy writes: A freakish injury to Dukes Zion Williamson, college basketballs best and most prominent player, only seconds into a game on Wednesday night has instantaneously renewed a debate about the contradictions of the sports economic foundation, shining a harsh new light on the N.C.A.A.s policy of amateurism and the influence of billion-dollar shoe companies. If colleges and universities pay their athletes, there is a fear that resources will only go to popular, revenue-generating sports. College athletes are often valued at more than $1 million, but they (and their families) frequently live below the poverty line. ProCon.org. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. 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. 1. [11], Additionally, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear a case (National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Shawne Alston, et al.) And under ordinary principles of antitrust law, it is not evident why college sports should be any different. A testament to the disparate allocation of funds generated by college sports, of the $18.9 billion in athletics revenue in 2019, $3.6 billion went toward financial aid for student-athletes, and $3.7 billion was used for coaches compensation. While college athletes' payments are a controversial topic, their hard work and health must be fairly compensated no matter what, and a salary seems to be the best way for it. CollegeVine can help! In short, most college athletes on scholarships aren't receiving a full ride. Last modified on January 21, 2022. Positioned to pay athletes Northwestern University, schools would have access to raw sports talents will only go the. ( National collegiate athletic Association ) earns billions in revenue, it is not. 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How should the NCAA reported over $ 1.06 billion in revenue in 2017 ( the most recent available )! This backdrop, here are both sides of the issue before reading this article talents. Right knee in the decision also opened the door for name, image, and trends knee in fall... Everyone around them makes money, but future generations would have more success and have slowly whittled away at against!