"Exploitation" of amateur players

[Eamonnca1]

I can't remember who it was, but some former inter-county player who had gone to Australia tweeted that "no other amateur players are exploited as much" when he heard about the Sky broadcasting deal. He's obviously not familiar with US college sports where student athletes live in poverty because of NCAA rules that stop them from even accepting gifts that could be interpreted as payment for their services. They're allowed a scholarship to cover tuition, free room and board, and not much else. They don't even get a penny from image rights, something that GAA players are allowed to earn.

A Californian judge has struck down the NCAA's rules preventing players from earning money from the likes of image rights. But the "it's time to pay GAA players" crowd shouldn't get too excited though. There are huge differences between the NCAA and the GAA.

An End to Exploitation of Athletes

A court ruling could spell the end of the "amateur" status of top-flight American college sports.

A federal judge in California has struck a blow against the amateur status of college athletes playing in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competitions. The ruling, if it is upheld on appeal, will pave the way for college athletes to earn money from image rights, something that GAA players have been doing for years. For the first time, a student athlete whose likeness appears in a video game will be able to earn a share of the millions of dollars generated by it.

Big time college sports have been controversial in America for quite some time, and not just because of the NCAA's amateur status. College campuses have become home to shiny, modern, opulent stadiums that would not look out of place on the professional sporting circuit. The highest paid staff in some universities are not world-renowned professors but basketball and gridiron football coaches. Indeed coaches are the highest paid public employees in some states, the highest earning $5.6 million per year, with Athletic Directors and assistant coaches earning seven figure sums. Under pressure from influential alumni who see sporting success as essential to maintaining a school's prestige, massive amounts of resources are poured into what is essentially a source of on-site entertainment for undergraduate students.

Full story...

[NAG1]

I can't remember who it was, but some former inter-county player who had gone to Australia tweeted that "no other amateur players are exploited as much" when he heard about the Sky broadcasting deal. He's obviously not familiar with US college sports where student athletes live in poverty because of NCAA rules that stop them from even accepting gifts that could be interpreted as payment for their services. They're allowed a scholarship to cover tuition, free room and board, and not much else. They don't even get a penny from image rights, something that GAA players are allowed to earn.

A Californian judge has struck down the NCAA's rules preventing players from earning money from the likes of image rights. But the "it's time to pay GAA players" crowd shouldn't get too excited though. There are huge differences between the NCAA and the GAA.

An End to Exploitation of Athletes

A court ruling could spell the end of the "amateur" status of top-flight American college sports.

A federal judge in California has struck a blow against the amateur status of college athletes playing in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competitions. The ruling, if it is upheld on appeal, will pave the way for college athletes to earn money from image rights, something that GAA players have been doing for years. For the first time, a student athlete whose likeness appears in a video game will be able to earn a share of the millions of dollars generated by it.

Big time college sports have been controversial in America for quite some time, and not just because of the NCAA's amateur status. College campuses have become home to shiny, modern, opulent stadiums that would not look out of place on the professional sporting circuit. The highest paid staff in some universities are not world-renowned professors but basketball and gridiron football coaches. Indeed coaches are the highest paid public employees in some states, the highest earning $5.6 million per year, with Athletic Directors and assistant coaches earning seven figure sums. Under pressure from influential alumni who see sporting success as essential to maintaining a school's prestige, massive amounts of resources are poured into what is essentially a source of on-site entertainment for undergraduate students.

Full story...

Very simple solution to this - any player who feels he is being exploited or taken advantage of in any way. Stop playing inter county hurling or football. You only have to look at alot of these guys and where they are career and job wise to see that there are definite benefits for these guys long term.

[Jinxy]

Was listening to one of the English womens rugby players being interviewed and the interviewer was going on about how they're not paid, the sacrifices they make etc.
I though her reply was excellent.
"We don't call them sacrifices, we call them choices."

[Syferus]

The real exploitation is on the football field when players are of college age. First three months of the year are a car crash waiting to happen. Everyone from club to county to college wants their pound of flesh.

[ck]

The real exploitation is on the football field when players are of college age. First three months of the year are a car crash waiting to happen. Everyone from club to county to college wants their pound of flesh.

+1

Agree completely. Money from Sky is a smokescreen for real exploitation which is too few players playing on too many teams and the GAA continue to sit on their hands and ignore. What other sport in the world would you have a young lad play for club U.21, senior, college, county U.21, County senior all at the same time. There's the exploitation.

[Dinny Breen]

Was listening to one of the English womens rugby players being interviewed and the interviewer was going on about how they're not paid, the sacrifices they make etc.
I though her reply was excellent.
"We don't call them sacrifices, we call them choices."

Winning choices - that's a real sports psychology term.

[Jinxy]

Sounded like a Geezerism alright.

[INDIANA]

Was listening to one of the English womens rugby players being interviewed and the interviewer was going on about how they're not paid, the sacrifices they make etc.
I though her reply was excellent.
"We don't call them sacrifices, we call them choices."

It is absolutely a choice. I know people who do Ironmen and triathlons and they train as much.

I suppose it can be argued form a commercial perspective people who do triathlons don't generate the revenue inter county players do.

But if you look closely at the numbers 20% of the counties generate 80% of the revenue. So its really lop sided in that regard.

I just think managers should encourage players to have a life outside the GAA rather then immersing every waking hour in it.

Its an awful shock to the system when they stop playing at that level and if they have another pastime or hobby outside or are setup with proper jobs with prospects it can very much cushion the effect of not playing at that level anymore.

Too many managers demand a 24/7 commitment, despite them getting paid a shed load of money.

[blanketattack]

I'm not sure if college players deserve too much sympathy. They get a college education worth $200k plus. Get the absolute best of the best when it comes to facilities, coaching/medical staff and treatment. Get numerous shots at pro contracts in the US or abroad, with some players signing for $50 million before a single professional minute played which can be more than doubled with endorsements. OK they're not cash rich in college but I'm sure they're better off than the standard Irish student.

The college sports TV contracts are worth more than the Premier League, serie a and la liga TV contracts added together but with a zero wage bill except for the coaching staff. That excludes gate receipts which are huge. Michigan's average home attendance is over 110,000. Many colleges earn $50 million+ a year from sports income. Thanks to title ix ruling, female college athletes get a huge chunk of this money in sponsorships. You can be a fairly average female athlete and get a full scholarship because of title ix.

[Syferus]

They're not going to college for education, though. Secondary at best. In Ireland it's in reverse.

The best ones also rarely complete their degrees before they turn pro so if they want to finish it'll end up being out of their own pockets in the future. The best players tend to be from very poor backgrounds - the average Irish college student, nevermind one on a scholarship is likely financially far better off than those NCAA players are if they play by the rules.

And one injury and all those pro dreams and every penny they could earn might be up in smoke. NCAA won't remain totally amateur for much longer.

And we're not even talking about the majority of players who are walk-ons and don't even get the full ride scholarships the star players do.

[AZOffaly]

They're not going to college for education, though. Secondary at best. In Ireland it's in reverse.

The best ones also rarely complete their degrees before they turn pro so if they want to finish it'll end up being out of their own pockets in the future. The best players tend to be from very poor backgrounds - the average Irish college student, nevermind one on a scholarship is likely financially far better off than those NCAA players are if they play by the rules.

And one injury and all those pro dreams and every penny they could earn might be up in smoke. NCAA won't remain totally amateur for much longer.

And we're not even talking about the majority of players who are walk-ons and don't even get the full ride scholarships the star players do.

That's not completely correct Syferus. Most, the vast majority, of NCAA students take advantage of their scholarships to get an education. They know they have to because if you look at the percentage of players who are drafted in a pro sport, then you compare it with the list of graduating seniors, you have to have something to fall back on. By and large I think NCAA sports are a vehicle for a free education.

As you say, for the lucky few it's more of a springboard and a preparation for a pro career. A lot of them, at the very top, don't bother finishing out their NCAA eligibility. But really, what are you talking about percentage wise who do that? 1%? 2%? Of an overall student athlete percentage I mean.

Finally, just with regard to feeling sorry for the student athlete, again at the top it's hard to feel any sympathy, but for your common or garden (the vast majority) scholarship student, they are treated like meat. If you fail, you're out. If you get injured, you're out. If you try to make money, you're out. And if you're out of the sport, you're out of college because the scholarship will likely be withdrawn.  A lot of schools will turn a blind eye to academic failures, or will try to get you some help. A few will let an odd booster giving you a few bob slide as well, as long as it is very discreet, but the NCAA are very tough on that sort of stuff. Colleges can be punished even if they don't know about something because of 'Lack of Institutional Control'. So it is tough to be an average student athlete, if you get injured or screw up in some way.

I'm not even talking about walk ons. A walk on is someone who doesn't have a scholarship but goes for tryouts and make the team (I know you know that, but just for the benefit of others). But they are not the majority. A College team can scholarship 85 football players. The majority of D1 players are on a scholarship.

[deiseach]

I'd say the club footballers of Donegal (to name but the most obvious offender in this regard) would love a bit of that ol' exploitation.

[ck]

Yeer missing the point here. To say triathlon athletes train as much is utter nonsense!
If that triathlete had 6 separate coaches, all requiring 100% commitment, some talking to each other, some not. Him training pre season for one or two, peak season for others. Let's see how that triathlete gets on then!

As for the College scholarship comparison. Irish players are at college for their education and sometimes get it free if they can play. Yet county managers try to tell them whether they can play or train, so the college team suffers etc. Ultimately its the player who suffers. He wants it all cos GAA rules allow him have it all but something has to give. And its usually the player, not the managers, not the GAA.

[ck]

I'd say the club footballers of Donegal (to name but the most obvious offender in this regard) would love a bit of that ol' exploitation.

Club footballers in Donegal are all in America. They'll be back in Sept for the 1st round of their club championships!
Of course if you listen to St. Jimmy he'd have you believe every county is at it.

[DuffleKing]

I can't remember who it was, but some former inter-county player who had gone to Australia tweeted that "no other amateur players are exploited as much" when he heard about the Sky broadcasting deal. He's obviously not familiar with US college sports where student athletes live in poverty because of NCAA rules that stop them from even accepting gifts that could be interpreted as payment for their services. They're allowed a scholarship to cover tuition, free room and board, and not much else. They don't even get a penny from image rights, something that GAA players are allowed to earn.

A Californian judge has struck down the NCAA's rules preventing players from earning money from the likes of image rights. But the "it's time to pay GAA players" crowd shouldn't get too excited though. There are huge differences between the NCAA and the GAA.

An End to Exploitation of Athletes

A court ruling could spell the end of the "amateur" status of top-flight American college sports.

A federal judge in California has struck a blow against the amateur status of college athletes playing in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competitions. The ruling, if it is upheld on appeal, will pave the way for college athletes to earn money from image rights, something that GAA players have been doing for years. For the first time, a student athlete whose likeness appears in a video game will be able to earn a share of the millions of dollars generated by it.

Big time college sports have been controversial in America for quite some time, and not just because of the NCAA's amateur status. College campuses have become home to shiny, modern, opulent stadiums that would not look out of place on the professional sporting circuit. The highest paid staff in some universities are not world-renowned professors but basketball and gridiron football coaches. Indeed coaches are the highest paid public employees in some states, the highest earning $5.6 million per year, with Athletic Directors and assistant coaches earning seven figure sums. Under pressure from influential alumni who see sporting success as essential to maintaining a school's prestige, massive amounts of resources are poured into what is essentially a source of on-site entertainment for undergraduate students.

Full story...

If this feeling actually didn't exist among players what would the point be of this thread?