These days, students who play sports in college have the chance to make money from companies supporting them, promoting products, and signing their names on items.
Normally, teenagers who play football in high school cannot make money from the sport. Until not long ago, university-level football had strict rules about being amateurs, meaning players could only receive scholarships and were not allowed to earn money through other methods. Even though these regulations have changed for college players, they still apply to high school football athletes. However, there might be ways to work around these rules.
Being a coach for high school football, I’m not a fan of the strict amateurism rules, and I’d rather see students who play sports being able to earn money from their efforts while in high school. However, it might take some time for these regulations to change. There could already be certain ways to get around the rules and allow athletes to make money from their participation in high school sports without facing negative outcomes.
Is it possible for college athletes to receive payment for playing?
No, college athletes don’t receive payment for playing like the way pro players do. Yet, a few of them do earn money through sponsorships and endorsements. This is on top of the scholarships they got before the rules about being amateurs were made less strict.
The old rules for college athletes being amateurs
Before the year 2021, students playing college football were not allowed to get endorsements or even say yes to free meals from restaurants. If they did, the NCAA (which stands for the National Collegiate Athletic Association) could make them leave. Teenagers who played high school football and took money could also lose the chance to play college football.
Changes to the rules about being amateurs
Starting in July 2021, college athletes have had a lot fewer limitations. They can take part in endorsements and sponsorships, as long as the money they make isn’t connected to how many points they get or how many games they win.
Does this make a difference for teenagers who play sports in high school?
Right now, the NCAA doesn’t have any issues with high school athletes making money from their sports. They can make money from high school football, and the NCAA will still allow them to play college football. But, the NCAA isn’t the only group involved, so it’s not yet possible for high school athletes to get endorsements
Comparing NFHS and NCAA regulations
Although the NCAA doesn’t have a problem with teenagers who play high school sports making money, the NFHS (which stands for the National Federation of High School Associations) disagrees. They state that high school athletes cannot earn money based on their involvement with a high school football team. The NFHS can make sure of this by taking away the student’s eligibility to participate in high school football.
How does this apply to Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) sports?
It’s conceivable that teenagers who participate in football and other sports through the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) might already be able to earn money. There could already exist a way for high school athletes to make money without facing negative outcomes.
The rules of the AAU don’t prevent players from profiting from their sports. The NFHS doesn’t oversee AAU sports or recreational sports.
In the best scenario, it might be feasible for an athlete who takes part in both AAU and NFHS games to earn money. Perhaps, they could endorse a product based on their AAU games and not their NFHS games, without the NFHS taking action against them. It’s not yet entirely clear how a high school athlete can earn money without facing consequences.
Would letting high school athletes earn money cause too much jealousy?
One argument against allowing high school athletes to make money from sports is that it could lead to a lot of envy and jealousy. Players might feel envious of those who earn more money.
However, feelings of jealousy, envy, and competition are already a part of high school football. The sport is filled with competition and a ranking system, and that’s part of what makes it attractive to both fans and players. Allowing high school players to earn money could actually benefit the sport instead of causing harm.
Olympic athletes used to have to be amateurs not long ago.
The Olympics were different from other professional sports until very recently. A player from the NHL, for example, couldn’t just join an Olympic hockey team and compete for a gold medal.
These rules about athletes being amateurs existed since the first modern Olympics in 1898 and were taken seriously. If you were caught earning money from endorsements as a result of competing, you could be banned from the Olympics. They would even take back any medals you had won.
The people who enforced these rules were not forgiving. When it was discovered that American gold medalist Jim Thorpe had received small amounts of money for playing baseball in college, he had his gold medals taken away. Eventually, the medals were returned, but this only happened after Jim Thorpe had passed away.
Why did they only allow amateurs to compete?
People believed that allowing professional athletes to take part in the Olympic games went against the true essence of the Olympics. They thought that if professionals were allowed to compete, the Olympics wouldn’t be the same and would lose its special status.
However, sports are fundamentally about competing, and this competition should extend beyond just the love for the sport, especially at the highest skill levels. Exceptionally talented athletes should have the chance to earn money, even during their time in high school and college.
Main Points to Remember
- Teens playing high school football still don’t receive payment and can’t make money through sponsorships or other means. The NFHS forbids high school athletes from profiting.
- College athletes have more flexible rules now, thanks to the NCAA’s changes in 2021. They still aren’t paid for competing, but they can earn from endorsements, sponsorships, or autograph signings.
- It’s still not easy for high school football players to earn money. The NCAA doesn’t mind high school athletes making money, but the NFHS, in charge of high school sports, doesn’t allow it.
- Athletes can engage in AAU sports not governed by the NFHS and profit. The AAU rules don’t prohibit players from earning.
- In the past, the Olympics were only for amateurs, not pros. However, they abandoned this rule for almost all sports in the 1980s, and completely since then.
