Pay for Play: The Changing Dynamics of Amateurism

NCAA football has begun and basketball is soon to follow. As many programs make millions of dollars for their schools, and with the enhanced pressure on the NCAA to provide monetary compensation to its student-athletes, you’ll probably see topics on all sorts of sports team websites discussing the payment of young athletes. This debate is fresh on the heals of a Little League World Series that witnessed pitcher Mo'Ne Davis gain national attention by doing a car commercial. Of course, Davis could not receive any money for her commercial, as it would threaten her amateur status.

More and more team organizers, coaches and athletes are lobbying for students to receive some form of fiscal recognition for their efforts. But the risk is that these rewards would taint the love of the game. There are legitimate arguments on both sides, and as a coach you should be aware of the rules so you can inform your young athletes on how to navigate the changing amateur landscape.

Be wary of accepting prize money or goods

For the time being, athletes that are handed checks as rewards for their efforts are at risk of being labeled as “professionals” by the NCAA. While most of the time, a $20 check for winning a tournament will slide under the radar, you cannot be too careful. There are too many examples of AAU basketball players going on to earn collegiate scholarships, only for it to be discovered that they received a free pair of sneakers from an AAU coach and have their scholarship and eligibility be terminated. Though it may be unfair, these are the rules as it stands and they must be honored.

New ways to bypass rewards

One way youth athletes can get around the rules is if the prize money comes in the form of a check made out to the academic institution of the athlete’s choice. For Little Leaguers, teams with national exposure that make it deep in the tournament could be awarded with a trust fund that goes to whatever higher-level educational program the kids ultimately choose. This program would be a reward for the players’ hard work, while also encouraging continued education. The U.S. Bowling Congress uses a program like this, called Scholarship Management and Accounting Reports for Tenpins or SMART. The SMART program generates $6 million in scholarship money for bowlers aged 5 to 21 every year, according to Ask Coach Wolff.

This is an uncertain era for amateur status, and as the rules change be sure to update your athletes through your sports team website.