The Ethical Case for Paying College Athletes: Balancing Amateurism and Revenue Sharing

Abstract

Ethics in Sports [University] Background of the Topic Whether college athletes should be paid to play or not has been an ethical issue ever since the inception of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); since its inception in 1906, NCAA has paid particular attention to intercollegiate sports through governance and enforcing rules prohibiting college athletes from any form of payments to play (Tepen, 2021). Based on the National Collegiate Athletic Association, such prohibitions protect amateurism and distinguish student-athletes from professional athletes. Back then, schools did not generate a significant amount of revenue from college sports, which could justify the need for full participation without such college athletes expecting any form of payment in return. However, basketball and football, among other college sports, began to generate tremendous revenues for many schools by the mid-twentieth century. However, this governing body still holds prohibitions restricting any payment to college athletes. Is it ethical to deny such college athletes a small token of appreciation, yet they are the pioneers of such revenue generations? In response to such a concern, the Supreme Court on 21st June 2021 made a ruling that paved some light on such ethical concerns. In its ruling on NCAA v. Alston et al., the lower court ruling blocked NCAA from enforcing restrictive measures denying college athletes payments as compensation for their participation in various sports. To that effect, college athletes gained a right to compensation as a way of profiting from engaging in sports while respecting and retaining their right to participate in their sports at college levels (Ehrlich, 2020). Since not all college athletes will become professional athletes in the future, the need to appreciate their efforts during their stay at college is a polite gesture that defines the ethical considerations of such athletes (Schneider, 2021). Paying close attention to the cost of quality education and the cost of living in the United States at current, it is evident that the unbearable pressures can become dressed through some token of appreciation in monetary form to college athletes. Though it may sound like a misuse of resources, it is good to remain considerate of the demands of college students and address them through revenue generated by the same athlete at the college level. Why college athletes should be paid There are many reasons why college athlete deserves some form of payment to play. Sports generate corporate sponsors, schools, and networks billions of dollars (Edelman, 2017). Since playing sports resemble a full-time job, it takes time away from studies to generate the billions addressed above. For this reason, college students deserve payments, as, without their participation, such revenues remain a dream. Many, especially the coaches, enjoy huge payments for training and engaging these college athletes. Why is it so hard to appreciate college players' efforts through some form of payment which can motivate them to continue engaging in such sports and generate more revenues for all beneficiaries? As long as college students are sparing their, which could adversely affect their academic performances, they should benefit from such sports in the form of payments. Playing sports exposes the athlete to injury risk; thus, paying them can provide spending money during such in-eventualities and even for leisure. As long as a person is in this life, there are risks that demand compensation, like an injury. Sport is among the areas whose participants are at risk of injuries at any time. Restricting any form of payment for a such players simply because they are students does not protect them from such exposures, thus the need to reward them with the standard form of payment for their savings and spending throughout their stay at school. On top of standard pay for spending, there should be insurance to cater for such athletes' injuries since their sports participation generates enough revenue to cater to such risks. Pay motivates performance, thus the need to offer it to college athletes (Shaffer, 2019). Since sports elevate the school brand, it is wise to remain considerate of such privileges by rewarding those than making it happen for many schools. While...