Why Do College Athletes Get Paid?

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How much does a professional athlete differ from a college athlete? Is there really any major difference between the two? This discussion has been going on for years, and every time the topic comes up the NCAA reject the idea. The number one response is that athletes get an education for free. Is that really fair? More than a third of the athletes that get a full ride education are going pro. Athletes put all their time and efforts into their sports. So, athletes have less time to spend on their education. Another aspect to look at is their health and well-being. Being in sports is not the safest thing to do, especially in a D1 program. Even the slightest mistake can end an athletes' career. Athletes are pushed to the limit every single day, …show more content…
Are the risk athletes take? Whether it is injury, stress, or schooling. Every day the players are taking a risk of pushing their body to the limit. There is just so a much a body can endure before breaking down. A major injury can ruin a college athlete's whole life, and the only thing to show for it is an education that is really choppy. What is wrong with paying the athletes a small amount out of the profit NCAA get. It would be something nice to look back at. If something does happen, athletes would still have something to look back at as an accomplishment. Another major risk factor would be the players' stress levels. Athletes have so much on their shoulders. From making grades and playing their guts out every day. It is basically a full-time job. When athletes are in the gym 40 plus hours, and the remainder of their day studying for classes. How can athletes find the time to stop and take a breather? Athletes have so much on their plate and have nothing to show for it. So, it is not just a sport they play for fun. It is a job. Another aspect is the athlete's education. A lot of people bring up the fact that athletes get schooling for free. When athletes are busy, forty plus hours in the gym, how can athletes, possibly have the time to get a good education? Also, many athletes do not choose a school for the majors the school offers (Kenneth). Athletes choose the schools based on how good the …show more content…
All it comes down to is whether the NCAA will be giving and find a fair way to distribute the money. College athletes are considered workers of the school. If, the sports athletes participated in were seen as jobs. Would it not be fair to pay them for their time and effort? The NCAA and some people will probably argue back by saying "athletes get paid by free education, which would accumulate to a hundred thousand for four years." Yes, that is true in some cases, but in basketball, education is not really worth it for a few athletes. The new trend of "One and Done" takes education path out of it. When a basketball player knows they are going pro, the player will only give education the minimum amount of time and effort to be able to play. Once an athlete has good grades and passes the first semester. The player is more likely to care only about the season. Other athletes are way too busy clocking in hours in the weight room and the gym/field. With all this going on, how can athletes possibly have enough time to take advantage of the great education being received. When athletes have education last on their priority list. That being said the NCAA should not use education as a payment method. Why is it a hassle to pay the athletes (the ones that bring in all the revenue) a portion of the millions and billions of dollars the NCAA make per year. The NCAA need to know that their greediness, will ruin the experience of most college