Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Amateurism In the NCAA

          A question among all middle school and high school students who desire to play sports in college is, what is more important, education or sports? And the answer really depends on what division you play in. There are three divisions in NCAA. In the third division, a student athletes priority is their education. If the student has a mandatory test or project or any type of important assignment, that student athlete is able to be excused from their team's practice, game, or tournament. As the divisions get more prestigious the athletics take more priority over the education. In division 1 athletics are the main priority. Although the NCAA preaches the balance between athletics and education among all three of their divisions, it's clear that the first division is more about athletics. The same freedom division three student athletes have with being excused from practices or games is not allowed, and even shamed upon, in the first division.

          The NCAA also cares a lot about amateurism and making sure the only type of athlete in their divisions are amateur athletes. There are specific boundaries between amateur and professional athletes, and if that boundary is crossed in any way there are certain penalties and suspensions. the definition of amateur is: a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reason. The requirements that an amateur athlete must have are:

  1. Contracts with professional teams
  2. Salary for participating in athletics
  3. Prize money that exceeds actual and necessary expenses
  4. Play with professionals
  5. Trying out, practicing, or competing with a professional team
  6. Benefits from and agent or prospective agent
  7. Agreeing to be represented by an agent
  8. Delayed initial full-time collegiate enrollment to participate in organized sports competition
For more information please regard the link below.

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