Should the Athlete Turn Pro, or Stay in School?
Should you start you pro sports career now, or should you go to college instead? Before long, that choice may be made for you. If collegiate sports spending is unsustainable, what does that mean for future professional athletes?
The Knight Commission recently held its annual gripe session in Miami and more than 75 percent of college presidents believe that the level of college athletic spending is too high, and that something must be done to reign in scholarship costs. That sounds to me like the presidents plan to cut scholarship costs as soon as they can.
What does it mean for kids hoping to pursue professional sports careers if there are fewer scholarships? Only time will tell, but one would think a natural and inevitable consequence is that the level of competition will be diluted at the collegiate level.
If collegiate competition is watered down, what happens to pro sports? Let’s consider a non-revenue sport like collegiate tennis, which has a vibrant professional tour. If scholarships are cut, more high school tennis kids will try to make it on the professional tour. Would that add to the quality of pro tennis? If colleges nationwide eliminate 500 tennis scholarships over the next decade, then how many of those kids will turn pro? More importantly, how many of the few remaining athletes will forgo collegiate tennis entirely, as the entire game is less meaningful? I predict that this is an opportunity for many sports such as tennis to capitalize and launch more professional leagues, teams and organizations, and differentiate their levels of competition. Consider what would happen if the majority of college golf scholarships were eliminated. We already have several “minor league” golf tours, but wouldn’t you expect to see a few more?
The amateur-professional sports distinction, and the blurred line between the two worlds, is a well-documented discussion. I think the line could eventually become more solidified as colleges continue to cut back, which means that college sports’ loss will be pro sports’ gain.
If you are interested in sports law related issues, please contact the sports law firm of Koch & Trushin, P.A.
