Aftermath of employee status

Student-athletes have little to no voice regarding their liberties in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Student-athletes have very strict hours of practice and game-related activities, and are unable to dictate what they do during this time. With the brewing Northwestern unionization case, many questions surround the future for student-athletes if they obtain the status of an employee. The Northwestern players are currently fighting for a union that would allow them to become employees in the eyes of the NCAA and have security from the strict collegiate rules.

The NCAA is liable for multiple important changes if the athletes win this case. As an employee, the players would be entitled to a salary. If players were given salaries, many schools would be losing money since only 10 percent of college sports generate revenue. The NCAA would be required to pay every player at least minimum wage regardless of the sport. Most NCAA sports barely bring in enough money to sustain themselves, sending them into further debt and possibly leading colleges to dropping sports. Although the colleges are losing a lot of money, the players are getting help since they are unable to get jobs with all the sport and educational responsibilities they have.

"All of us have bills. All of us have expenses, just like every other student,” Alabama long snapper Carson Tinker said in a 2013 Huffington Post article. “I don't live with football players. I live with two of my good friends. While I'm at practice every day, they have a job. They're able to pay their bills, buy food, stuff like that."

The major issue behind being a student-athlete is, they do not get reimbursement when they are significantly hurt. 

“Injuries sustained in college athletics that linger or develop into chronic conditions are generally not covered by a university’s or the N.C.A.A.’s medical insurance once an athlete has left college,” Bill Pennington said in a 2013 New York Times article.

Currently, student-athletes who are on scholarship are all at risk of losing their assistance after they are seriously injured.

“There is also no provision in the Division I Manual to prohibit a coach from revoking a scholarship the year after a recruit gets hurt.” Meghan Walsh said in their 2013 Atlantic article.

Players becoming employees would hurt not only many colleges, but also put the NCAA in jeopardy of collegiate sports. The players would have significant more freedoms and the NCAA would have to change their current no wage approach.

Written by Sadeon Martin and Justin Wu