To many of the youngsters, the idea of becoming financial independent at an early age (recently some under the age of 15) is an overwhelmingly convincing reason to forgo their education. These young athletes are receiving lucrative deals worth millions of dollars when they are still in the developmental stage of their life, still very naïve to the ways of the capitalistic society in which they live. They become caught up in a society that has placed the value of the dollar ahead of social development and are not prepared to turn down such offers. Many of these young men and women are becoming millionaires, literally, overnight; signing contracts and hiring agents and managing expense accounts that the average citizen won’t see in a lifetime. Their overnight successes are eradicating generations of poverty and second

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is beginning to realize the massiveness of this problem, and, as of recently, discussions are being presented in regard to compensating college athletes monetarily. Their proposal is being suggested to combat the influx of athletes leaving school early and to give the athletes a reason to complete their education. This is a good first step but it misses addressing the core problem, athletes not being academically prepared for college environment. The sports industries have become huge contributors to colleges and high schools that the focus on the students academic performance has become second to his ability to perform on the field, the court, the track, or whichever activity he has helped the school bolster.

class citizenship. To the thousands of youngsters watching the very few success stories, the gamble is worth taking.

High schools across the nation are also addressing the issues concerning student athletes. Many high schools have adopted internal policies that require their student athletes to maintain specific grade point averages. (The majority of schools have established an academic average of 2.00 as suitable for participation in sports programs.) These actions due address some concerns but are not based on the core element, development of the academic student first. Our institutions of learning have been developed by a free society in order to educate and prepare future generations to become successful citizens. Now, this does not mean that aspiring to become a professional athlete is not a valid career goal, but it should be mentioned, again, that less than ten percent of student athletes actually make it to the professional level.

The NCAA and the high school associations would also have to implement strict guidelines nationwide that allow student athletes to participate in their chosen sports. A commission should be established to develop and overs

Some topics in this essay:
Association NCAA, Money Run, Tournament Championship, student athletes, professional sports, sports industries, percent student athletes, professional level professional, student athletes participate, athletes leaving school, athletes participate, millions dollars, job market, percent student, professional level, sports programs, professional athletes,