Collegiate Athletics: the Flaws and the Facts
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- Date Submitted: 05/24/2011 10:40 PM
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Collegiate athletics have become a major aspect of American culture, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s job has been to be its police force against “improper benefits,” a key term in collegiate controversy. The NCAA was founded in 1910 to originally protect all of the college athletes in the NCAA. Over time, their role has increased to upholding and committing to:
• The collegiate model of athletics in which students participate as an avocation, balancing their academic, social and athletics experiences.
• The highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship.
• The pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics.
• The supporting role that intercollegiate athletics plays in the higher education mission and in enhancing the sense of community and strengthening the identity of member institutions.
• An inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from diverse backgrounds.
• Respect for institutional autonomy and philosophical differences.
• Presidential leadership of intercollegiate athletics at the campus, conference and national levels. (NCAA.com)
Their main weapon in doing this is to regulate eligibility through various means. Upon analysis of NCAA decisions, a student-athlete athlete loses their eligibility, or right to compete, when the student-athlete puts athletics ahead of academics to the point where they lose integrity in their actions.
Throughout all their decisions, the NCAA points to what they call “amateurism” to defend their position. The NCAA believes that amateurism upholds the ideal collegiate sports atmosphere, and any action. However, their interpretations in high-profile cases seem to be swayed by profit and power. This paper will dissect the issues surrounding amateurism and eligibility and offer a possible solution.
What is Amateurism?
Amateurism dates back to Ancient Greece, where the Olympic Games consisted of strictly...
• The collegiate model of athletics in which students participate as an avocation, balancing their academic, social and athletics experiences.
• The highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship.
• The pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics.
• The supporting role that intercollegiate athletics plays in the higher education mission and in enhancing the sense of community and strengthening the identity of member institutions.
• An inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and career opportunities for coaches and administrators from diverse backgrounds.
• Respect for institutional autonomy and philosophical differences.
• Presidential leadership of intercollegiate athletics at the campus, conference and national levels. (NCAA.com)
Their main weapon in doing this is to regulate eligibility through various means. Upon analysis of NCAA decisions, a student-athlete athlete loses their eligibility, or right to compete, when the student-athlete puts athletics ahead of academics to the point where they lose integrity in their actions.
Throughout all their decisions, the NCAA points to what they call “amateurism” to defend their position. The NCAA believes that amateurism upholds the ideal collegiate sports atmosphere, and any action. However, their interpretations in high-profile cases seem to be swayed by profit and power. This paper will dissect the issues surrounding amateurism and eligibility and offer a possible solution.
What is Amateurism?
Amateurism dates back to Ancient Greece, where the Olympic Games consisted of strictly...