Why College Athletes Should Get Paid Essay Example

scholarships. They have a li8fe to live more than the academic programs and the sporting activities. Athletes, for instance, may need to visit relatives or travel to different places in an attempt to relax their minds. They are unlikely to get the money for different events that give life more meaning when they are not paid. The scholarships in most cases form the basis and only encouragement that takes many poor students to college. Paying such poor students can only serve to improve their quality of life and ability to cope with life challenges. There are significant expenses that are not included in the scholarship programs.

Athletes are forced to overwork but still lead miserable and uncomfortable lives. Many cannot rely on their parents for the extra money they need to live. These students often consider securing part-time jobs to feed and clothe themselves. If a student works 90 hours a week at their unpaid “job,” and then spends 10 to 15 hours at a paid job. Consequently, they work around 100 hours each week for four years simply to be able to feed themselves adequately. Most athletes come from low-income families and hence need more support (Parent).Paying of athletes helps to prevent burnt out and consequently underperforming on the field and in their studies. Instead of chasing and working at part-time jobs, athletes can focus more on their respective games to earn higher rewards. Paying athlete makes them better student athletes (Zirin)
College sports attract and recruit those kids wishing to attend college and play at the national level. College athletes play an important role in the University Athletic Department. They do not receive payment as

colleges do not view them as professionals regardless of the risks they undertake and the time they take in sports. The scholarships they receive in most cases never cover unforeseen costs which consequently make the lives of the athletes challenging.

Many college players would miss classes when a college game was televised nationally. The college generates both direct and indirect revenue from the sport, yet the revenue earned is not shared with any player on the team. As the college gets to profit from the team performance, it should provide compensation to the athletes who commit their energies to the occasions. They feel exploited when the management committee provides no compensation to motivate them as assign of their active participation.

Community-based teams give payment to their players to compensate their time and energies. They spend fewer hours on training when compared to college athletes with little resources that in most cases come from sponsors. Colleges have immense resources that come from the increases visibility through college athletes. College athletes who excel work act as ambassadors of the colleges. It is only fair that athletes in colleges spend a small fraction of resources to pay the athletes. The athletes compete with community teams which have individuals that receive pay.

Paying college athletes improves local competition which further attracts qualified talent. Paying college athletes will not only make them more dedicated to the sport but will also attract Individuals with the skill to manage the sport. More students will talent will showcase their talent with the hope of receiving pay. Students struggling to live a decent living are unlikely to spend much of their time in sport. They will take

the time to work in different settings to get money that will improve their livelihoods. Paying college athletes will make sport attractive which will improve local competition and hence improve the excitement associated with the game.

College athletes are required to spend extra hours with the team in college (Sanderson, Allen, and John. Siegfried 115-137). The time spent by college athletes in training active completion can be used to generate income by engaging in other development projects. Colleges only need to compensate students for their time in sports and should not ignore their personal sacrifices. The athletes are also bound by strict disciplinary rules that make the act and relate like professionals. College officials, for instance, regulate the speech of the Students-athletes on Facebook and Twitter. The discipline and professionalism levels in college sport show that there is a need for the athletes to receive payment by showing corporation and working by the strict disciplinary guidelines.

NCAA had to strike a deal with CBS/ Turner for March season of sports for about 11 billion in 2011, and this madness will go on until 2024 for colleges that follow the NCAA rules. However, it did not pay any amount from the revenue earned through the matches. NCCA will use different sports that athletes participate in to make promotional deals. It is unfair that NCAA will make huge profits and fail to share the benefits justly with the athletes (Christopher 226). Paying athletes is a sure way of ensuring that college athletes benefit from such deals. The sports events generate very large amounts of revenues (Jerry).

Colleges with massive sports programs pay their head coaches millions of dollars. The Alabama

head football coach made $5.5 million in the year 2013 and has recently won a new contract worth $7 million each year. The head football coach at Texas made slightly less; he brought in only $5. 4 million (Anderson). Paying coaches and not including athletes in the budget plan amounts to misappropriation of priorities. The resources generated by the attractive sports events can equitably be shared among all stakeholders in college sports. College athletes should stand a better chance of getting the best favourable rewards. The colleges have high revenues they can spend without getting into a loss.

Athletes sacrifice to train with the hope of becoming paid professionals in future. Such dreams are not easily fulfilled as many teams set very high standards in their recruitment processes. It takes a long time training and luck for some players to join high paying professional teams. Other students may injure their bodies in the training sessions which may hinder them from pursuing careers in sports. As such, a large number of players will feel wasted when they cannot attain their careers in sports. They stand to lose twice when colleges do not pay them for their dedication to improving the status of their institutions. The rewards that students receive are too small for the energy and commitment they show in their respective games.

It is difficult to measure the energy and contribution that athletes put into their respective games. It remains evident however that much of what they do benefits the institutions that accommodate them. Some athletes take their games as full-time jobs since they form the basis for them pursuing an education. They, therefore, love their sport

and appreciate the little assistance offered scholarships by their colleges.
The government laws advocate and show the need for paying individuals that take their time to perform different tasks legally. The NCAA despite its reservations on not paying athletes should not overlook the rules and regulations that regulate workers. Athletes are simply but individuals performing duties for their teams and institutions.

If all colleges offered all expenses paid, it certainly would attract a wider selection of athletes that comes from locations all over the world. This will further promote admission in the well-reputed university. The student would feel free regardless of the regions they come from considering colleges that will benefit them by providing scholarship and facilitating their stay with pay. International students will have the benefit of marketing student globally. They also create a platform for not only sharing knowledge but skills that help improve the quality of the sport.

Student-Athletes should be paid a salary to motivate and keep their eyes on the prize. A well-reputable team helps colleges identify the best talents academically and also excels in sports for the love of the game. The colleges must take the initiatives and file a petition against NCAA to pay the students athletes for their sports to resolve the issue, . And if NCAA refuses, then the college might refuse to take part in sports to put pressure on the organization. College athletes own the sport and should be allowed to take part in a decision that affects their well-being. Paying college athletes shows commitment to improving their well-being and dedication towards improving the quality of sport I n different colleges. The NCAA responds that “This is

our tradition” whenever they are called to pay athletes. The NCAA tradition cannot exist in the 21st century due to the associated economic and technological changes.

Works Cited

1. Anderson, David. "Ten Reasons College Athletes Should Be Paid". http://www.listland.com/top-10-reasons-college-athletes-should-be-paid/ (2015)
2. By Jerry Hinnen @jerryhinnen Apr 07, 2014 • 2 Min Read. "Alabama Athletic Revenues More than Any NHL Team's." CBSSports.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
3. Parent, Christopher M. "Forward Progress-An Analysis of Whether Student-Athletes Should Be Paid." Va. Sports & Ent. LJ 3 (2003): 226.
   Sanderson, Allen R., and John J. Siegfried. "The Case for Paying College Athletes." The Journal of Economic Perspectives 29.1 (2015): 115-137.
4. Zirin, Dave. "An Economist Explains Why College Athletes Should Be Paid." The Nation. The (2015).

Annotated Biblography

• Anderson, David. "Ten Reasons College Athletes Should Be Paid". http://www.listland.com/top-10-reasons-college-athletes-should-be-paid/ (2015)

Anderson gives many good reasons on why they should get paid. Many athletes that play a sport in college have a low income which makes it even harder for them to live a college life. Paying for something they do every day is something that should be done to motivate them. Paying athletes helps many families and students. It gives the athletes a better reason to stay in college for all four years, and it is most likey that they will do good in school. The author argues clearly on the impiortance of ensuring athletes are paid.

• By Jerry Hinnen @jerryhinnen Apr 07, 2014 • 2 Min Read. "Alabama Athletic Revenues More than Any NHL Team's." CBSSports.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.

The author writes and considers Alabama, pretty successful sports schools that can help their athletes solve money problems. The university brings in a lot of money because of the

sports, mainly football. The athletes bring in most of the money to the school and should, therefore, be considered. Nick Saban is the head coach of Alabama and is the highest paying college coach. They pay him so much money because he wins a lot of games. The students make him win games, and should be getting paid just like he is.

• Parent, Christopher M. "Forward Progress-An Analysis of Whether Student-Athletes Should Be Paid." Va. Sports & Ent. LJ 3 (2003): 226.

This author talks about why student athletes should get paid and how it will affect them. He explains what athletes go through every day during the week and how no pay affects them mentally and physically. The author discusses the different reasons why they should get paid while playing a sport in college. The article is helpful as it gives relevant information on why athletes should be paid.

• Sanderson, Allen R., and John J. Siegfried. "The Case for Paying College Athletes." The Journal of Economic Perspectives 29.1 (2015): 115-137.

College athletes attract a lot of fans to watch them play. It brings in, as the authors argue, a lot of money to all the colleges and universities. The players go through hard physical and mental labor to become the best on and off the field with very litte reward. The authors argue that atheletes should get paid, because they generate revenues for the school from their hard work.

• Zirin, Dave. "An Economist Explains Why College Athletes Should Be Paid." The Nation. The (2015).

The author argues in the article that athletes put in a lot of the work during the offseason to become the best. They also work every day

on the field and off the field to succeed to become a great player and student. Paying the athletes give they support when they are in college. They will have extra cash with them when they need it. Giving them money for engaging in sports makes them better student-athletes.