Protecting Athletes: The Sports Industry and it’s Governing Organizations

Josh Nuding
Concordia University
Module 3: Essay Assignment 1
Professor Helen Kelliher
10/14/2013

The sports industry was not always as organized as we know it to be today. Over the years there have been several different organizations founded for the organization of sports, with key sights set on fairness amongst athletes. Many of the organizations that we have become familiar with today are in place to protect the best interest of athletes; both student athletes and professional athletes alike. Organizations like the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), and Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) are all organizations in place for athletes. Without the development of organizations like these, sports as we know it today may have not been the same. The origin of one organization started in the early 1900’s, mostly due to the brutality of college football back then, “. . . the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS), was officially constituted on March 31, 1906, and became known as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1910.” (Thibault, 2011, p. 145) The NCAA has become the most renown and influential athletic organization in intercollegiate athletics, and supports over a thousand colleges and universities. “NCAA rules and regulations focus on amateurism, recruiting, eligibility, playing and practice seasons, athletically related financial aid, championships, and enforcement.” (Thibault, 2011, p. 145) It is the largest governing organization over intercollegiate athletics and they do have the final say over any violations of NCAA policy. Not only does the NCAA hold control over the colleges and universities athletic programs, they also protect the best interest of any athletes involved in college sport programs. A top rated athlete who may be getting ready to turn professional has a lot to worry about, and the NCAA has strong guidelines for both the athletes and agent recruiters. More often than not professional organizations will uphold any enforcement handed out for violations of these policies for athletes moving on; agents can lose their certification for violating NCAA policies. Quite frankly, the NCAA is a powerhouse when it comes to the sports industry, and plays a very key role in the protection of student athletes. Once the student athletes have a chance at becoming a professional at their given sport, there are many options for the athletes to choose from that have a main focus on the athlete’s wellbeing. The first place a football player may want to become associated with is the NFLPA. The NFLPA’s sole interest is in the protection of athletes in the National Football League. “Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected—including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989.” (NFLPA, 2013) The NFLPA acts in the best interest of the athletes; representing them in matters dealing with wages, working conditions, retirement, and overall rights of the athletes. The NFLPA also assures that all terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement are met, and represent the athletes in the case of a lockout.
The NFLPA also is in charge of certifications for an athlete’s personal representation, or agent. It is required for any agents to be certified through the NFLPA before representing athletes. There are certain requirements that are required in order to work in the representation of professional athletes, which are put in place by the NFLPA. These requirements are in place purely for the protection of the athlete, and violation of the NFLPA agent policy could lead to de-certification for the agent. Not only do they