Money for NCAA Athletes
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What I learned from my involvement in college sports
This summer, the Supreme Court ruled that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) did not follow its own rules in distinguishing between separating amateurs and professionals. The sports organization quickly announced temporary measures for the beginning of paying athletes for using their name or image.
As someone who spent years deciphering NCAA regulations, I knew that was only the beginning of a long road as the association, universities, and the states they are located in, try to figure it all out.
The NCAA passed along some of the responsibility to the federal government and this week a bipartisan duo in Congress introduced a bill to allow student athletes the opportunity to make money.
I spent over three decades covering college and junior tennis and, occasionally, other collegiate sports. I helped coordinate player introductions to college coaches I thought would be a good fit. This was not a job. It was something I did because of the relationships I developed with players and coaches.
I also spoke at showcases and and seminars about playing college sports and NCAA rules. I authored Monthly Guides to College Tennis Planning, which I updated yearly with the latest NCAA rules. Given all this, I feel I am more than qualified to offer an opinion on this.
Are The Current Rules Fair?
Of course, it’s not fair that the NCAA and the colleges are making money — millions in some cases — from athletes who must stay amateurs, but there is so much more to this that still needs to be worked out.
People have questioned that many of these students are receiving scholarships to the schools, room and board. Is that enough?
Let me tell you some stories that I am personally aware of:
· A coach picked up a player to take him to an early morning practice. The player mentioned that he hated these early practices because there was no place for him to get breakfast with his meal card.
The coach, knowing he shouldn’t go hungry, especially with intense physical activity coming, stopped and bought him a bagel. The coach was sanctioned by both the NCAA and the school. Had…
