To the editor: I have to respectfully problem the recent opinion piece claiming that “title and likeness” (NIL) agreements and fashionable 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 yr, with $945 million from media rights alone. Excessive-profile coaches had been paid tens of millions years earlier than NIL insurance policies existed.
The inflow of cash into school sports activities just isn’t new; what has modified is that athletes at the moment are allowed to profit from the wealth they assist create.
For many years, athletes generated huge income for universities, coaches and the NCAA whereas receiving minimal compensation for his or her efforts. Permitting these athletes to earn from their contributions just isn’t a betrayal of values — it’s a step towards equity in an already professionalized system.
If reforms are wanted, they need to handle the NCAA’s position in sustaining an outdated system. Ending the NCAA’s nonprofit standing and permitting faculties to pay athletes instantly, simply as they pay coaches, would convey school sports activities in step with financial realities.
School soccer stopped being about amateurism way back, and clinging to that pretense solely perpetuates outdated norms. We must 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, except the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL), which has a tough cap on whole participant salaries. The result’s extra parity within the NFL, the place the groups are likely to preserve 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, lots of of school gamers are greedily hopscotching yearly from one campus to a different to earn a couple of additional bucks. Loyalty and continuity have been deserted. Extra necessary, so has the school expertise for these younger athletes.
The one solution to management that is via a tough cap on what faculties can spend on NIL. This funds might be completely different for every sport and for every division of play. That means, the College of Alabama could have the identical funds as Kansas State College, and the College of Oregon could have the identical funds as Southern Methodist College.
This needed 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 outdated days,” which in fact weren’t all that nice for lots of people most often.
On this case, within the good outdated days, gamers had been utilized by faculties to lift tens of millions of {dollars} for his or her faculties. After all they are going to inform you how lots of the gamers acquired a free training in change for taking part in sports activities, but it surely’s additionally true that many different gamers struggled as a result of they weren’t in a position to earn a living throughout the season.
And don’t get me began on the under-the-table funds to stars.
What’s been carried out 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 great outdated days of school soccer are proper now. I like residing within the current.
Mike Moersen, Thousand Oaks
