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Should College Athletes Be Paid?

Decent Essays

Every morning, millions of people around the world get up and go to their jobs in hopes of a paycheck to support themselves and their families. Full time or part time, where there is work to be done, there are money and benefits to be earned. Collegiate athletes not only work to excel in the classroom but are also expected to train and perform like professional athletes. College athletes participating in the NCAA should get paid because a scholarship does not cover all college athlete expenses, the return on investment received by the college or university is large enough to do so, and with money as motivation, the level of play could significantly improve.
The NCAA claims it is protecting the principle of amateurism by not paying collegiate athletes and therefore not treating them as professionals. It is true that collegiate athletes are not technically professionals, but those participating in the NCAA are required by their coaches and school to put forth a professional effort for the sake of winning. The training schedule begins before classes even start. A fitness packet is given to the recruit the summer before his/her freshman year, and the requirements are expected to be completed so that when preseason starts, the athlete is very fit. Once preseason starts, also before classes, the athletes move onto campus and start very rigorous two-a-day practices. A combination of early morning training sessions, fitness tests, hours of play, and physical and mental focus are

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