Non Student Athletes

Over time, athletics have become a major factor in the culture of universities across the united states. For generations, education and athletics have been associated with each other as the culture of sports has become a part of the academic culture from elementary level all the way up through graduate school level. As the role of college athletics grew, so did the argument that athletes are as competent in the classroom as non-student, and they don’t take advantage of the education they are offered is often had with research being provide on both sides. Some research shows that student athletes have less academic accomplishments than non-student athletes (Comeaux & Harrison, 2011; Eitzen, 2009). While other search argues that student athletes …show more content…
Athletes dedicate more than twice the amount of time to activities outside of the classroom than non-student athletes (Richards & Aries, 1999). Even with that dedication, student athletes have the same academic standards as well as any additional requirements from the NCAA, university, or personal team.(National Collegiate Athletic 11 Association [NCAA] 2015, p. 4). Students that fail to meet NCAA requirements, they will be ineligible to compete and are at risk of being stripped of any scholarship money. (NCAA, 2015, p. 145). NCAA bylaw 14.1.7.2 states to be eligible to compete, student athletes must be enrolled as full time students taking 12 or more credits as a undergraduate student, 9 or more as a graduate student (NCAA, 2015). Students must successful pass 24 credits by the third semester(NCAA, 2015, p. 172). NCAA athletes are required to be pursuing an academic degree and must prove it. By the end of the second year or fourth semester a major must be declared and documentation must be submitted to the NCAA (NCAA, 2015, p. 174). 40 percent of the coursework for the intended major must be completed by the athletes third year and 60 percent by the fourth year in order to remain eligible to compete(NCAA, 2015, p. 175). The NCAA has a GPA standard of 2.0 that all athletes must achieve to be eligible for competition starting their third semester. Universities and teams may impose …show more content…
Athletes participating in high-income sports have a tendency to accomplish less scholastically and athletes who excel in low-income sports have a tendency to accomplish the same amount of success as non-student athletes (Simons et al., 1999; Richards & Aries, 1999; Zuagg, 1998). Coaches most play a vital role in motivation of academic success by stressing its importance to the athletes (Burnett & Peak, 2010; Carr & Weigand, 2001; Zuagg,