There is no age limit for a professional athlete to be able to compete in a professional league. Their skill level and their dedication to the sport determines how often they play and with what team. One would think college sports would work differently, maybe more similar to high school sports—four years of play eligibility which ends once the players either graduate or are simply too old. However, age and when one graduates aren’t determining factors in who gets to play National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports, only the eligibility clock matters. According to the NCAA, Division I athletes have five calendar years to play four seasons of competition and the clock starts once the athlete enrolls as a full-time student. That’s it, but is this enough?
While these rules are concrete, they can be easily abused. Charles Bediako, an NBA San Antonio Spurs player, has recently decided to return to college basketball and play for the University of Alabama. His transition was quick, easy, and painless. He was previously a student at the University of Alabama, and since his eligibility clock had not yet run out, he was able to pick up where he left off in 2023. Bediako, a 23-year-old man who has played basketball at the professional level, has a massive physical advantage over teams with 18-year-olds who have only had experience playing at the high school level. With Bediako’s success in playing for Alabama, others are sure to follow. If the option is there for professional athletes, why not take it?
The NCAA needs to amend these rules before things get out of hand, college sports are typically the stepping stone into professional leagues for players who did not previously have the adequate resources to succeed. Not everyone can hone their skills during high school and be able to go pro once they turn 18, and stepping onto the college team to play with a bunch of professionals doesn’t help them develop further. A college team filled with professional athletes is no longer a true college team. The star high school quarterback from last year can no longer shine on his college team. The star high school quarterback from five years ago is stealing all the glory.