Thesis: Student athletes should get compensated some percent of the money they bring in for the school.

1. How being a student athlete is a full-time job but with no salary?

There’s has been a lot of discussion going on lately about whether student athletes get paid or not. Every year schools make thousands of money because of these athletes by selling tickets for different games like basketball, football etc. All the money made just doesn’t go for the funding for the school but also goes to the coaches, administration etc. Everyday a student athlete has to wake up and has to get to workouts then they have to go to class till 3-4 pm and then after go to practice and still have to come back and do their homework. Most of their time is devoted to the sport for which they get accepted into big and popular schools for and they don’t even get paid for it.

Harnett(2014) “For a little extra money my freshman roommate worked his but off all day with 2-3 basketball training sessions for $7 an hour job at the university, plus classes and homework and would go to the job for some hours late at night”.

2. NCAA is a billion-dollar company

NCAA and CBS signed a 10.8 billion dollars television contract for march madness for years 2011 to 2024. $11 billion for three weekends of television per year. All the money NCAA raises is because of the student athletes and they don’t get a single penny of that money to go in their pocket to spend for themselves for the time they’re at the university. Even majority of the coaches earn at least $100,000 a year salary for the major sports like basketball, football and baseball. They also receive bonuses if the team does good like making the playoffs, winning championships etc. Universities bring in thousands, some even millions every year because of selling tickets, donations etc.

Wilbon(2011)“$11 billion deal — OK, it’s $10.8 billion to be exact — between the NCAA and CBS/Turner Sports for March Madness between 2011 and 2024. We’re talking $11 billion for three weekends of television per year. On top of that, there’s a new four-year deal with ESPN that pays the BCS $500 million”

3. Some athletes need to send money home back to their families

Student athletes doesn’t get no money to go in their pockets for themselves and they need money to support themselves over the course of time their at the university. Unfortunately some of the athletes come from a low incomed family where their parents cant afford to give them money and some athlete’s parents can’t support themselves and need help from them, due to NCAA rules students athletes can’t have a job or their scholarship gets suspended. Making it unfair for them and leaving them unable to help support their families. Student athletes can’t even charge money for their autographs.

Harnett(2014)“NCAA prevents student athletes from allowing their likeness to be used for promotional purposes.”

Counter: Most division 1 athletes get full ride scholarships

Refutation: The average full ride scholarship for a division 1 school is about $25,000 a year. It seems like a lot of money, but it only covers the basic like tuition, meal plan, housing and textbooks which costs a couple hundred dollars too. Some of them receive Pell grants depending on their family’s income but that only helps them buy basic food. Most athletes don’t even complete full 4 years at the universities because of there’s politics, injuries and if they perform bad they’re kicked of the team and there goes the scholarship as well.

Conclusion: Student athletes should get paid to help them be less stressful and help them stay focused on their goal to making it to the pros.