Student athletes can monetize, NCAA votes

With California allowing student-athletes to be paid, the NCAA is now following.

Basketball is one of the sports that NCAA athletes can get paid. (Creative Commons Zero)

In early October, the governor of California, Gavin Newsom appeared on “The Shop,” where he signed the Fair Play to Pay act, allowing California student-athletes to be paid for their likeness. Now it appears that the NCAA is now going to do the same.

The NCAA’s top governing board recently has decided to change their rulings on how student-athletes can profit off things such as their image and likeness. Student-athletes across the country who play for prestigious sports programs across colleges earned nothing from anything that has to do with them.

While every student-athlete in the three NCAA divisions can be paid, there are specific guidelines that have to be met in order for them to get an earning from their likeness. According to the NCAA, these guidelines are the following:

Assure student-athletes are treated similarly to non-athlete students unless a compelling reason exists to differentiate.

Maintain the priorities of education and the collegiate experience to provide opportunities for student-athlete success.

Ensure rules are transparent, focused and enforceable and facilitate fair and balanced competition. Make clear the distinction between collegiate and professional opportunities.

Make clear that compensation for athletics performance or participation is impermissible.

Reaffirm that student-athletes are students first and not employees of the university.

Enhance principles of diversity, inclusion and gender equity.

Protect the recruiting environment and prohibit inducements to select, remain at, or transfer to a specific institution.

“I think this is something that should have been done a long time ago. Players have gotten Heisman trophies taken away from them in the past for receiving money illegally for the same things that are legal now.” said Jacob Castro.

Castro believes that student athletes should have been paid in the first place. Especially those apart of Division 1 teams that compete at the highest collegiate levels. Those students, no matter what the sport play for their respective schools and don’t get paid squat for anything attached to their names.

With the ability to be paid for anything attached to your name, it really brings so much more freedom to student athletes who are eating ramen noodles from their dorm rooms.

To be honest, it feels like Newsom’s appearance on “The Shop,” could have been an influence on the NCAA changing its rules to help benefit student-athletes. From him signing off the act to these rule changes being announced, it feels student-athletes have a chance at earning something from themselves rather than letting the schools they play for profit off of them.

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