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Behind NCAA's Money and Fame: The Hidden Price of Student-Athlete?
In North American university sports, student-athletes' lives are often surrounded by halos.They are not only sports stars in the school, but also receive widespread attention from the media and seem to have an unlimited future.However, behind these glamorous surfaces are many invisible costs. Can these student-athletes really have the future they dream of?
Experts point out that student-athletes are under tremendous pressure in balancing their studies with exercise, which affects their health and mental state.
Since the NCAA (National College Sports Association) first proposed the term "student-athlete" in 1964, this term has become an indispensable part of the North American higher education system.Under this system, student-athletes are defined as students who participate in organized competitive sports sponsored by the school in higher education institutions and receive scholarships for their inability to do so.
Historical Background
Competitive interschool sports in the United States began in the 19th century, with the original classic sport as rowing, while American football began to rise in the 1880s.With the development of sports, unfortunately, sports injuries also increased, which led to the establishment of the NCAA, partly due to US President Theodore Roosevelt's requirements for college football reform.The relationship between school and sports has been a controversial topic since the 1930s, as media reports of sports events have brought considerable income to the school, and the success of sports teams has also led to a surge in the school's number.
Sports Scholarships
Sports Scholarships are usually supported by tuition, accommodation and meals fees based on athletic ability, but student-athletes who receive these scholarships often face various challenges.According to statistics, only about 2% of high school athletes can receive NCAA University's athletic scholarships, and the amounts of these scholarships often cannot fully cover tuition fees.
Even with scholarships, student-athletes often have to fight heavy academic and training time, which puts their academic performance at great challenges.
Super pressure faced by student-athletes
Super athletes’ pressure comes not only from competition and training, but also from the balance of academic burden and social responsibility.They need to find a balance between physical and mental health that maintains competition.In addition, the issue of identity has made student-athletes increasingly anxious because their sense of self-worth is often closely related to athletic achievement.
Impact of the Title IX Act
Under the Education Amendment Title IX, revised in 1972, the Act prohibits any discrimination based on gender and creates more equal opportunities for men and women's movements.This not only changed the distribution of college sports, but also promoted the development of female athletes and further encouraged them to pursue their dreams of professional sports.
Graduation rates for student-athletes
Under the U.S. regulations, universities must disclose their student-athletes’ graduation rates so that prospective students can evaluate the proportion and coursework.Just recently, an NCAA study found that the graduation rate of freshmen has reached 86%, a record high of 15% higher than the 1984 data.
Although student-athletes have high graduation rates, many students also face contradictory challenges between academic and sports.
The Road After Graduation
It is worth noting that 98% of college athletes will not enter the ranks of professional sports.The career plans they face after graduation are often slim, and many people fail to even lay a solid foundation for their future work during their studies.As demand changes, they need to adapt quickly, but this is a difficult test for many student-athletes.
Summary
Behind the icing on the cake of student-athletes, unknown difficulties and challenges are hidden.Their realistic choices and future prospects are often much more complicated than people imagine.But do we really understand the hidden costs these student-athletes bear and what will happen in the future?
