Title IX & Pay for Play

Title IX & Pay for Play

Title IX legislation is typically thought of  as regarding to equality for female athletes; which is true, but Title IX encompasses all athletics and ensures equal treatment for male and female. When looking at the issue of paying collegiate athletes we must consider how Title IX affects a decision to compensate. Title IX has been a hindrance in moving forward with “Pay for Play” not only because of the disparity in revenue between football/men's basketball and women's sports; all other men’s sports are affected by the decision to pay the larger sports. “Despite the friction that existed between some men's sports and Title IX, the latter actually may serve as the best protection for every program against implementation of a pay-for-play system that didn't take into account all student-athletes.1” The protection refers to the equality among all sport programs that Title IX calls for, male athletes in sports such as lacrosse or soccer have to be considered just as well as female athletes in their respective sports.

“Status as a non-revenue sport versus a revenue sport is not protected. But gender is. Title IX guarantees gender equality in athletic opportunities.1” Title IX does not take into consideration revenue generated by a sport but only that equal opportunities are provided for all athletes. There have been attempts to circumvent the legislation and have high revenue generating sports excluded; those attempts, such as 1974's Tower Amendment, have failed. The problem with paying collegiate athletes is that it can make some sports more attractive than others and potentially limit participation in other sports; "What the court would say is; it's not an equally meaningful opportunity if the experience is richer, for lack of a better word, in some sports. 1" The common result is that Title IX is the one obstacle that we cannot maneuver.

Title IX should not be viewed as something designed to prevent athletes from being paid; but we have to understand how it fits into the scope of fairly compensating all athletes. Coaches and athletic directors have to form a collective effort to establish a plan that is fair to all programs and all sports in compliance with Title IX legislation.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6769337/title-ix-seen-substantial-roadblock-pay-play-college-athletics