To the editor: I have to respectfully problem the recent opinion piece claiming that “identify and likeness” (NIL) agreements and trendy school soccer economics have corrupted the game.
The writer overlooks the truth that school soccer has been commercialized for many years. The Nationwide Collegiate Athletic Assn. (NCAA), whereas working as a nonprofit, generated $1.3 billion in income within the 2022-23 fiscal 12 months, with $945 million from media rights alone. Excessive-profile coaches have been paid thousands and thousands years earlier than NIL insurance policies existed.
The inflow of cash into school sports activities will not be new; what has modified is that athletes at the moment are allowed to learn from the wealth they assist create.
For many years, athletes generated large income for universities, coaches and the NCAA whereas receiving minimal compensation for his or her efforts. Permitting these athletes to earn from their contributions will not be a betrayal of values — it’s a step towards equity in an already professionalized system.
If reforms are wanted, they need to tackle the NCAA’s position in sustaining an outdated system. Ending the NCAA’s nonprofit standing and permitting colleges to pay athletes instantly, simply as they pay coaches, would carry school sports activities in keeping with financial realities.
School soccer stopped being about amateurism way back, and clinging to that pretense solely perpetuates outdated norms. We should always embrace reforms that replicate actuality and deal with athletes as valued contributors to a system they maintain.
Brent Williams, Arlington, Va.
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To the editor: Cash is ruining sports activities. That is obvious in skilled sports activities, aside from the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL), which has a tough cap on complete participant salaries. The result’s extra parity within the NFL, the place the groups are inclined to hold their core of key gamers longer than the opposite skilled sports activities.
What’s taking place in school sports activities is particularly egregious. Within the curiosity of NIL cash, tons of of school gamers are greedily hopscotching yearly from one campus to a different to earn a number of additional bucks. Loyalty and continuity have been deserted. Extra essential, so has the school expertise for these younger athletes.
The one approach to management that is by means of a tough cap on what faculties can spend on NIL. This price range might be completely different for every sport and for every division of play. That manner, the College of Alabama could have the identical price range as Kansas State College, and the College of Oregon could have the identical price range as Southern Methodist College.
This crucial change will enhance school sports activities and fan curiosity.
Joel Miller, Torrance
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To the editor: ML Cavanaugh laments that school soccer is now only a enterprise. He jogs my memory of individuals wishing for the “good previous days,” which after all weren’t all that nice for lots of people usually.
On this case, within the good previous days, gamers have been utilized by faculties to lift thousands and thousands of {dollars} for his or her colleges. After all they’ll let you know how most of the gamers acquired a free training in alternate for enjoying sports activities, however it’s additionally true that many different gamers struggled as a result of they weren’t in a position to earn cash in the course of the season.
And don’t get me began on the under-the-table funds to stars.
What’s been performed since then has given the gamers management of their picture and curtailed monetary dishonest. After all, faculties nonetheless rake of their cash.
So for me, the nice previous days of school soccer are proper now. I like residing within the current.
Mike Moersen, Thousand Oaks
