NCAA Exploring Employment Status for Athletes

Let’s start this blog with a history lesson. In the 1950’s, the NCAA created the term “Student-Athlete” after almost 50 years of formalized college athletics. The term was invented as a way for the association to avoid paying worker’s compensation to injured college athletes because they were not technically classified as faculty of the colleges they represent.

Fast forward to 2023, and NCAA president stands in front of congress arguing the possible “necessity” of giving athletes employee status in response to the Name, Image, and Likeness rights granted to college athletes in 2021. There are many pools of thought right now on how to take back control from the athlete free market, but my goal is educate you on what options have been put on the proverbial table.

Option 1: Make college athletes employees - This may only apply to NCAA DI football and basketball, as those are where the main revenue stems from.

Option 2: Force conferences to distribute all revenue in a collective bargaining agreement style process among their athletes and schools.

Option 3: Create a new set of benefits for athletes, including extended health insurance, guaranteed scholarships through four years, and a post-career education fund.

We’re still a long way away from any kind of progress, but it will be interesting to see what angle the NCAA chooses to pursue.