Do you think college athletes should be paid?

[eliza61]

I thought that this was restricted to during the season.

depends on the school. If you think about it, sports season generally run all year.
Football leads into basketball, basketball leads into baseball, on and on and on.

So my school had "training table (wasn't called that but same thing)" thing. They weren't going to hire a dietician for only football season. so pretty much from September to June it was open.

It's probably different at each school but big universities probably run them for the school calendar year to cover multiple sports.

 

[undertheradar]

You are comparing Grad students? not the same thing. we are talking undergrads.

And please tell me when they are to work? They don't have any time! seriously these kids do not have the time. We aren't talking tough we are talking there physically isn't any time!!

Others gave you the example of performance majors. Sorry, how did these kids have time in high school?

If you want to get specific, how about comparing the graduation rates and gpas of athletes versus non? Very small percentage of D1 athletes get degrees within 5 years.

Who was that linebacker from Ohio State who wigged out in the NFL? He had incompletes in such academic courses as: mini golf, bowling, and recreational board games. Extreme example, but not exactly rocket scientist expectations.

 

[sam_gordon]

LOL, it usually is. When I was at Pitt, many, many moons ago, the big thing was to get a boyfriend who was either on the football or basketball team. You got to eat in the cafeteria when they were being fed (usually about 30mins after normal grazing hours). The food was waaay better.



LOL. that's easy Sam, we call them Parents.

My son could not work due to football. Football camp (many times mandatory) began in July until 1st or 2nd week in August. Official training began in the summer. We were lucky if he got approval to go on our family vacations.

My other son was a wrestler. same problem. wrestling camp all summer. wrestling matches on the weekend are easy 8-10 hours. practice after school until 7 or 8:30 pm.

In my development I have friends who have daughters on the cheerleading squad. Want to talk about time commitment. Competitive cheerleading is darn near all consuming. not only can the girls NOT work but the parents chuck up a boatload of money getting them to meets.

for many parents the payoff in college scholarships are way better than the money a kid would make part time at a minimum wage job.

But if the parents can support the kids with spending money through HS, why can't they do the same through college?

 

[Hannathy]

Others gave you the example of performance majors. Sorry, how did these kids have time in high school?

If you want to get specific, how about comparing the graduation rates and gpas of athletes versus non? Very small percentage of D1 athletes get degrees within 5 years.

Who was that linebacker from Ohio State who wigged out in the NFL? He had incompletes in such academic courses as: mini golf, bowling, and recreational board games. Extreme example, but not exactly rocket scientist expectations.

again you are comparing oranges to apples. High school is not college. and a lot of these kids don't work in high school.

The performance majors I know do not have the same time commitments as sports. It s a lot but not the same.

You still haven't said when these kids are to work? where are the hours?

 

[sam_gordon]

again you are comparing oranges to apples. High school is not college. and a lot of these kids don't work in high school.

The performance majors I know do not have the same time commitments as sports. It s a lot but not the same.

You still haven't said when these kids are to work? where are the hours?

You're right. HS is not college. In HS, you're going to classes from 8a-3p. Then you have a two hour practice. In college, you might have 4 hours of classes in a day, then a two hour practice and another hour of film study.

In HS, you have to take core classes in English, Science, and Math every year. You MIGHT have room for one, maybe two electives each semester.

In College, you can space out your requirements and take more electives "in season".

As far as when the athletes can work... I said earlier members of our football team took jobs over the summer. Yes, they still had to train (either with the team or on their own), but they managed. Unless you are a multi-sport athlete, there IS time to work off season.

 

[undertheradar]

again you are comparing oranges to apples. High school is not college. and a lot of these kids don't work in high school.

The performance majors I know do not have the same time commitments as sports. It s a lot but not the same.

You still haven't said when these kids are to work? where are the hours?

Look up tuition at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village California and tell me how it differs from college.

I used grad students as an example, any full-time student has the same requirements and pressures.

Performance majors have numerous extra requirements besides academic course load. Demands from outside groups for performances and instruction are constant and networking is the key to employment after completing school. In my own experience, I had classes on 4 days, travel with off campus instructors 2 days per week, voice lessons, piano lessons, ensembles, instrumental groups, and then, my own private group. Adding in the expense of music gear, upkeep, travel expense(hit the airport with 45 pieces of music gear), sheet music, rehearsal space and still trying to experience college as a regular student. So you are right, how do you add to 24?

 

[Hannathy]

You're right. HS is not college. In HS, you're going to classes from 8a-3p. Then you have a two hour practice. In college, you might have 4 hours of classes in a day, then a two hour practice and another hour of film study.

In HS, you have to take core classes in English, Science, and Math every year. You MIGHT have room for one, maybe two electives each semester.

In College, you can space out your requirements and take more electives "in season".

As far as when the athletes can work... I said earlier members of our football team took jobs over the summer. Yes, they still had to train (either with the team or on their own), but they managed. Unless you are a multi-sport athlete, there IS time to work off season.

I would like to see the athlete at a top school for sports only have 3 hrs a day for practice. They have that much in high school!

 

[sam_gordon]

I would like to see the athlete at a top school for sports only have 3 hrs a day for practice. They have that much in high school!

IIRC, the NCAA limits the amount of practice time (so many hours/week).

How many hours a day do you think they're practicing? I'll even give you three hours of practice + 1 hour of film study. That's four hours a day dedicated to their sport. Another 4 hours (heck, let's say 5) for classes. That's 9 hours a day. In HS, they have 7 hours of academics, plus two hours for practice (oh, wait, you said HS practices three hours). So a HS athlete has 10 hours between academics & athletics, a college athlete 9. How again are they different?

 

[sonnyjane]

IIRC, the NCAA limits the amount of practice time (so many hours/week). How many hours a day do you think they're practicing? I'll even give you three hours of practice + 1 hour of film study. That's four hours a day dedicated to their sport.

NCAA is supposed to limit practices to 20 hours per week. Anything above that is "optional". As a swimmer we swam/lifted at least 4-5 hours 6 days a week, so well over 20. Football guys the same. Sure, we *could* tell our coaches to get lost and that we wouldn't be coming in more than that, but nobody ever tried while I was there!! Certainly not anyone on scholarship.

 

[Hannathy]

IIRC, the NCAA limits the amount of practice time (so many hours/week).

Yeah like in HS they can't start practicing until a certain date but they have "optional conditioning" all summer. Yeah try not going to the "optional" practices and being on the team. or "suggested" weight training all winter.

 

[lazer]

Throwing this out there... Just an example of a schedule at a small Midwestern school. This was pretty standard for all sports, but here's what men's and women's soccer was. During season: lifting or running in the morning, typically an hour, two hour practice in the evening, then team dinner, then study time (check in and check outs required) for two hours, then maybe film. During the season, many teams leave on Thursday, play on Friday, travel to another town, and play on Sunday. Getting back to school early Monday morning (like 3 am). Oh, and add in community service hours (required at this school) and there's really no time for work. The travel alone doesn't allow for many opportunities.

I applaud anyone who can work and go to school full time (athlete or not). It's exhausting I'm sure!

 

[sam_gordon]

NCAA is supposed to limit practices to 20 hours per week. Anything above that is "optional". As a swimmer we swam/lifted at least 4-5 hours 6 days a week, so well over 20. Football guys the same. Sure, we *could* tell our coaches to get lost and that we wouldn't be coming in more than that, but nobody ever tried while I was there!! Certainly not anyone on scholarship.

Yeah like in HS they can't start practicing until a certain date but they have "optional conditioning" all summer. Yeah try not going to the "optional" practices and being on the team. or "suggested" weight training all winter.

OK, fine. Are you trying to tell me athletes are dedicating 30 hours a week to their sport 52 weeks out of the year?

 

[Hannathy]

OK, fine. Are you trying to tell me athletes are dedicating 30 hours a week to their sport 52 weeks out of the year?

At a top college level yep!

 

[sonnyjane]

OK, fine. Are you trying to tell me athletes are dedicating 30 hours a week to their sport 52 weeks out of the year?

Not all. Some go down to maintenance levels. However, at my school for example, a lot of the football players ran track in the spring, so another full-time sport. Swimming was a fall/winter/early spring sport but for the last month or two of school we went down, although not to the 20 hour level.

 

[eliza61]

But if the parents can support the kids with spending money through HS, why can't they do the same through college?

and many do. the difference is the output is much higher in college.

Using myself as an example. Honorable son#2 has a partial athletic scholarship. covers about 1/2 his tuition, all his room and board. zero% of his books. now he's out of state so I have to factor in getting him home a few times during the year and just routine stuff like his cell phone bill, a movie now and then and because he has dreds (dreadlocks) hair appointments. LOL never thought I'd be paying for my 19year old son to go to the hair salon.

Now I totally accept those expenditures because I think he's worth it (most of the time).

He's luckier than most because he kept in contact with his old employer from almost 4 years ago and he lets him work during the summer. but let's do the math.
He comes home in May, he can work 2 full months at most because once again football practice and conditioning starts 8/3. Unlike HS, it's not optional. he wants his scholarship, he's there. He goes to class, practice is usually 4-5 hours daily during the season.
No he cannot work. He tried and it was a dismal failure. He;s not the type of kid that reads some thing once and gets an A. He's got to put in the time and work.

Now you through in all the other requirements that a div 1 school requires (community service and appearances, travel time and meetings) and it's tough.

 

[Art 1]

OK, fine. Are you trying to tell me athletes are dedicating 30 hours a week to their sport 52 weeks out of the year?

My brother was on scholarship in Univ, played football, QB. It was amazing the amount of time that was put in. Like they say, they own you.

 

[eliza61]

OK, fine. Are you trying to tell me athletes are dedicating 30 hours a week to their sport 52 weeks out of the year?

LOL. I'm taking it that you did not go to a SEC division school.

Yes, if an college football player has any aspirations what soever to make it into the pros. If they are first string and get on tv, they are dedicating their entire lives to the sport.

No different than athletes that train for the Olympics. It is their lives.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

OK, fine. Are you trying to tell me athletes are dedicating 30 hours a week to their sport 52 weeks out of the year?

I'd say 30 hours a week average all year is probably about right. It increases during the season and decreases during the off season. They can tell their teams and coaches to go pound sand if they want to miss an optional workout. But they'll be having fun sitting on the bench if they do.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain how these kids survived 4 years of HS without "stipends" or "pay". IIRC, the athletes ARE allowed jobs during their "off season". I remember football players taking summer jobs to have spending cash during the year.

How they survived high school is irrelevant.

I survived high school. But I also had a need to be employed because my parents weren't giving me much money. (My dad gave a little, my mom pretty much none.)

At Division I schools, the summer is spent training. I'm sure that is the case for other divisions as well.

 

[jrmasm]

How they survived high school is irrelevant.

I survived high school. But I also had a need to be employed because my parents weren't giving me much money. (My dad gave a little, my mom pretty much none.)

At Division I schools, the summer is spent training. I'm sure that is the case for other divisions as well.

I don't know exactly what you mean but this statement but my dd a d2 athlete does not spend the summer training. She has a fitness test to prepare for in August and trains a couple of days a week with her former club team. She has plenty of time to have a full time job over her summer break.

If she didn't have time, for whatever reason, that would be her dad and my problem. No way in hell should she get paid.