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The Is The Bedrock Principle Of College Athletics And The Ncaa

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Amateurism is defined as one who engages in an art, science, study, or athletic activity as a pastime rather than as a profession. ("Definition of AMATEURISM", 2017). In sports terms, an amateur is an athlete who has never accepted money, or who accepts money under restrictions specified by a regulatory body, for participating in a competition. According to the NCAA, amateurism is the bedrock principle of college athletics and the NCAA. Maintaining amateurism is crucial to preserving an academic environment in which acquiring a quality education is the first priority. ("Amateurism", 2017). Though the argument on whether or not to pay student athletes is nothing new and has endured the test of time. The NCAA has remained strong in their …show more content…

Amateurism is set “to ensure the students priority remains on obtaining a quality educational experience and that all of student-athletes are competing equitably” (Clevens, 2013, Vol. 143, No. 4). The NCAA expects the athletes to uphold the amateur policy or their eligibility could be jeopardized. Athletes are aware of this prior to signing their letter of intent and must abide by this policy the entirety of their athletic college career.
Currently, a number of student athletes are of the opinion that they should receive additional monetary compensation for two reasons. First, they argue that due to their rigorous and demanding schedules they are unable to hold jobs to receive an income. Secondly, that they should receive payment because of the amount of revenue they bring into the university; whether that is through jersey sales, video game sales, or being a high profile athlete that increases ticket sales and exposure of the university. This is mainly referring to football and men’s basketball. The NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.1, forbids “the use of his or her name or picture to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind” (Clevens, 2013, Vol. 143, No. 4). “It would be unfair to other students if the university paid athletes to play college sports, although many may disagree. Scholarships

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