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College Athletes Could Have a Case for Being Compensated
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Date: February 10, 2014
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One of the biggest topics of conversation in college athletics in recent years pertains to player compensation.
Should college athletes that help bring in millions of dollars to their universities be paid for play? If so, how much?
There has yet to be much movement on this issue, as the NCAA hasn’t shown any signs that it is willing to change the rule. However, that could change in the near future, as a group of athletes at Northwestern University recently began the process of unionization, according to ESPN Outside the Lines. A petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board and was backed by the United Steelworkers Union.
The main reason college athletes argue that they should be compensated for their play is because major sports bring in millions of dollars, while players put their health on the line before they are able to turn professional. According to USA Today, the University of Texas athletic program brought in a total revenue of more than $160 million in 2012.
Draft Eligibility
This may not be a significant issue if NCAA rules didn’t prevent athletes from turning professional whenever they please. It is different for every sport, but most restrict draft eligibility.
For example, football players must be three years removed from high school before becoming eligible for the draft. Meanwhile, basketball players have to spend a year after high school playing in college or overseas before being able to play in the NBA. Baseball players can be drafted out of high school, but if they forgo that decision, they have to stay in school through their junior year.
By restricting draft eligibility, players are at risk of injury that could put future earnings in jeopardy, which is one of the biggest reasons why many people support compensating college athletes with more than an academic scholarship.
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