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The Mysterious Lives of Student-Athletes: How Does the NCAA Affect Their Futures?
Every year, more than 500,000 student-athletes in the United States compete in NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) sports competitions, and this organization has a profound impact on the lives of these athletes. The original intention of the establishment of the NCAA was to regulate and protect the rights and interests of student-athletes, but over time, the organization's regulations and its operation methods have also been subject to a lot of controversy. Especially in terms of compensation and rights protection for student-athletes, whether the NCAA's policy is really suitable for the future of students is worthy of our in-depth discussion.
In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that certain restrictions on student athletes by the NCAA violated U.S. antitrust laws.
The NCAA was founded in 1906 in response to the ongoing casualties in college football. From the beginning, the NCAA has played the role of regulating college sports. Over time, it has gradually developed regulations for a large number of sports including men's basketball and football. The division of the NCAA's three competition groups - Division I, II and III, also clarifies the differences in athlete scholarships and competition levels between different schools. In particular, first-level universities can usually provide full scholarships to athletes, which attracts a large number of outstanding athletes to join.
The NCAA's financial report shows that its total revenue from the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year will reach US$1.28 billion, 74% of which comes from the broadcast rights of the men's basketball championship.
However, such a system is also controversial. The NCAA has strict limits on compensation and rewards for student-athletes, leading many athletes to complain that they are not being rewarded for their efforts and risks. Economists generally believe that these restrictions not only benefit schools, but also infringe on the rights of athletes themselves. As time goes by, society has become more and more concerned about these issues, causing the NCAA to face challenges from the political and legal levels.
"International Women's Rights Law", antitrust laws and multiple lawsuits against the NCAA have emerged one after another in recent years. In 2024, the NCAA settled a lawsuit that made Division I athletes entitled to compensation since 2016. This change signals that the rights of student-athletes are receiving more and more attention. They are no longer just tools to make money for school sports, but are regarded as people with the right to reasonable compensation and value.
Economists describe the NCAA's operating model as a monopoly and believe that it harms the interests of athletes in many ways.
In addition to financial challenges, the lives of student-athletes can also be filled with stress. They need to balance academics and sports, and even find ways to survive in the high-pressure environment of competitions and training. For many athletes, college life is not only the stage of sports, but also the starting point of their careers. In this context, whether the NCAA can provide a fair and supportive environment has become a key issue.
Looking back at the history of the NCAA, whether it is from the early regulations on sports to the recent changes to the rights of student athletes, the role of this organization can be said to have continued to evolve over time. For student-athletes, whether their academic and athletic achievements can be truly recognized and supported is an important factor affecting their future careers.
In the next few years, the lives of student-athletes may experience drastic changes due to NCAA policy changes. Athletes are not just competing on the stadium, they are fighting for their futures. Amid this wave of change, we must ask ourselves: Can the NCAA truly be a supporter of student-athletes, rather than a hindrance to them?
