Pros and Cons of the Knight Commission - Paper Example

Introduction

The knight commission aimed at reversing the control of intercollegiate athletics by giving universities and colleges the mandate to make policy recommendations aimed at balancing sports and education to strengthen educational values and morals. These recommendations, however, depicted various advantages and disadvantages in achieving the set objectives.

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Advantages

The first commission report is attributed to more significant reforms adopted by the NCCA that have resulted in transparency and equity in expenditures by universities in both sports and academic programs. The convention in Dallas that led in the adaption of the knight foundation recommendation to replace governance structure of academic institutions controlled by athletic directors and coaches with a system where the college president is given the mandate to plan all policy activities related to sports ensured increased equity and transparency in resources in both sports and academic expenditures (Sobocinski, 1996).

The recommendations by the night commission create a turning point for students faced with the pressure to perform to keep their scholarships as the coaches also keep their jobs. Previously Student-athletes who were academically underprepared were awarded scholarships with the sole reason being sports performance (Hollis, 2001). This performance became their only motivating factor. Furthermore, the continued clash between time spent training and traveling or competitions compared to time spent in class further alienated the students from the vital classroom knowledge. Therefore integrating educational performances a key factor for the athletes to keep their scholarships meant that they also had to divert some of the time otherwise spent in preparations and performance practices in academics (Hollis, 2001).

Knight commission recommendation to offer support structures to student-athletes the same way other students are offered helps in overcoming challenges and prejudices associated with counseling and psychology of college athletes (Dillman, 2008). Dillman, categorizes college students as the most popular lot in the school campus yet they are always faced with the possibilities of not being recognized as stereotypes and misconceptions facing these students hinders their health improvement psychologically (2008). The latter is attributed to athletes being seen as performers whose sole role within the school is to be praised and criticized arenas as they play. Therefore, within the school, these student-athletes end up being lazy, pampered, out-of-control, over-privileged, and chiefly driven to attend school due to their role in intercollegiate athletics (Dillman, 2008). These misconceptions and prejudices end up being instilled in the minds of the athletes rendering them reluctant to be involved in the advantageous sports psychology and counseling services offered at the schools. The knight commission policies aim at eradicating this imbalance by recognizing that the student-athletes are also faced with problems just like any other individual in the society, and they need counseling and support services.

Disadvantages

Splitt, (2009), states that the keeping faith in student -Athlete recommendation by the knight report was founded on false assumptions that by strengthening the control of NCCA and college sports the sports would be well managed and controlled through academic integrity, certification programs, and fiscal integrity. This increased presidential authority directed to both the NCCA and college sports does not offer absolute control as the intercollegiate sport continue to provide lucrative opportunities due to its money, power, and over-commercialization. Consequently, the presidents just like the coaches still practice the same morality as the coaches due to the desire to win.

The recommendations by knight commission to treat college athletes as students and assessment of academic institutions and athlete teams performance in education results in academic clustering (Dillman, 2008). For example, athletes may join specific majors in massive numbers as they are considered easy in beating proposals such as proposition 48 which mandates incoming athlete students at Division I to have attained at least an average lowest grade-point of 2.0 in principal subjects and a total score of 700 or 17 SAT score (Dillman, 2008). Academic clustering results in an increased number of graduates who lack the necessary skills or passion for their specialized courses. The latter leads acquire a carrier or perform as per the requirements of the abo market after failing to play at professional level (Dillman, 2008).

Recommendations by Knight commission aimed at improving academic integrity by treating players as students and emphasizing on scores and certification fails to address factors propagating the same morals the policies aim at eradicating. For example the institutional standards and rules that deter the adaptation of NCCA recommendations to the latter due to the fear of failure as a result of being at a competitive disadvantage (Ridpath, 2008). Therefore, most institutions strive to have the best athletes in their ranks to stand a better chance at winning and generating revenue. Furthermore, the report fails to deal with the primary motivating factor behind increased competitiveness and desire to win- the possibilities of a lucrative career associated with professional play (Ridpath, 2008). The latter is what has turned college sports into breeding centers for professional teams rather than just being college competition. Limiting professional influence would go a long way in ensuring cases such as scandals and academic fraud are limited; and professional leagues can offer an alternative to the athletics not interested in acquiring a degree and want to play as professional athletes (Ridpath, 2008).

References

Dillman, P. H. (2008). Differences in the Opinions and Attitudes of Student-Athletes Relative to Expenditures for Intercollegiate Athletic Support Services (Social, Athletic, and Academic)

Hollis, L. P. (2001). Service ace? Which academic services and resources truly benefit student-athletes. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 3(3), 265-284.

Ridpath, B. D. (2008). Can the faculty reform intercollegiate athletics? A past, present, and future perspective. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, 1, 11-25.

Sobocinski, E. J. (1996). College athletes: What is fair compensation. Marq. Sports LJ, 7, 257.

Splitt, G. Frank, (2009). The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics: Why It Needs Fixing -A Collection of Related Commentaries. The drakegroup. Retrieved on 22nd August 2018 from https://drakegroupblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/splitt_knight_commission.pdf.