PROFIT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is planning on allowing amateur athletes to profit from their image and sponsorships.
By Natalie Vargas, Staff Writer
Through debate and legislation, the NCAA has begun permitting their student-athletes to gain compensation for their public image. This is the next step in providing athletes a greater experience in all three divisions. Student-athletes have always brought in high amounts of revenue, especially to competitive division one programs, and yet never see a dime. While receiving mixed reviews, the NCAA still believes the time has come for their athletes to receive fair benefits from their celebrity status’.
A few states have begun passing laws that make it illegal for college athletes in their state to not get paid for their image and likeness. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed the “Fair Pay to Play Act” that will be enforced as of January 1, 2023. The NCAA strongly opposed this act because it would blur the line between college and professional athletes, not securing a student-athlete’s status of amateurism. With potentially endless possibilities of sponsorships, college-athletes would be treated as Olympians or professionals in endorsements, contributing to the NCAA Board of Governor’s concerns. However, after unanimously voting, it was agreed that student-athletes could earn profit. “We must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes,” said Micheal Drake, an NCAA board chair member. By now working toward student-athletes being able to prosper from their name and image, the traditional idea of collegiate athletics will be changing permanently. Even though the NCAA is still working to secure the amateurism of their athletes while allowing them to profit, they aim to change the rules by January of 2021.