This piece is a continuation of a look at the current conflict between student athletes in America and the organization that was originally formed to protect them, the NCAA and its embattled president Mark Emmert.
One of the rather ugly practices that the universities engage in on a regular basis is recruiting players and then, for their own reasons, cutting that player from the team and taking away his scholarship. At the heart of this issue is ‘over-recruiting’ which is practiced by many major schools, Alabama for example.
CAPA would like for those athletes who are cut from the squad while still in good standing with the university to be able to complete their education on the same scholarship they signed on for. At present most schools pull the scholarship. Tough luck kid, see ya.
Next up is probably the ugliest item on the list. If a player is injured while participating in college athletics and is then not able to return to the team, it is common practice to take away his scholarship and then to leave the injured player with often staggering medical expenses. That’s got to stop.
CAPA is also asking for better safety guidelines for safety in all university sports to help prevent serious injuries and avoidable deaths. Another no brainer.
At present it is almost impossible for student athletes to secure and maintain off campus employment in order to supplement their income and meet expenses. Permission must be obtained in advance from the coach before the player can even look for a job.
This issue also addresses the player’s ability to accept compensation from commercial opportunities. Students who do not participate in athletes are not subject to such restrictions. But student athletes are not allowed to take money for just about anything because of amateurism, whatever that means.
CAPA would also like to see the NCAA stop punishing student athletes for the actions of boosters and fans. Keeping a player out of the playoffs because some crazy booster had a big party is simply ridiculous. Why not punish the offenders and not the kids?
The subject of a student athlete’s right to change schools, for whatever reason, is something else that CAPA would like very much to change. If a player wants to transfer to another school he may well be prevented from doing so, or be required to sit out a year just because some jealous coach does not want to see him playing for the competition. Bull!
