Demanding That the Maltreatment of Student-Athletes by University Athletic Coaches End.

Dear, NCAA

                I’m writing this letter on behalf of student-athletes everywhere.  As a student-athlete myself, I’ve seen what happens when no one is looking, when the NCAA isn’t looking, and when athletic departments turn a blind eye. I’ve seen, and heard countless incidents where student-athletes are being treated unfairly, or receive too many benefits. I’ve seen how coaches treat their student athletes, as they do whatever it takes to win. Athletes being physically, verbally, emotionally, and even sexually harassed by their coaches. Student-athletes are treated like trained dogs that do their coaches biding.

So now I write this letter, for the student-athletes. For each and every one of them to have a voice, against mal-treatment from their coaches. Some of you might ask, why do none of these athletes come forward? The reason behind this is the power the coaches have over their players. Coaches have too much power, too much control. Coaches control scholarship money, they control transfer requests, they control travel expenses (including money for food for the athletes), control of practices, and the list goes on. Yes, the NCAA has rules against too much practice hours, amount of money given to the athlete during a trip, harassment, ect.. Question is, who enforces it? The athletic department that turn a blind eye? No one is there to enforce it, especially if the team is a successful winning team.

Now, here’s my concern. How come student-athletes are evaluated each year by their coaches? Evaluated with their grades, and performance, the outcome of their evaluation is the amount of scholarship they keep or amount they get taken away. How come student-athletes are evaluated each year, and coaches aren’t?

The amount of pressure, mentally, physically and emotionally that is put upon student athletes is incredible. Keeping up with school, with practice, with coaches that push the limit of players’ sanity. What these coaches do to their players, risks these athletes mental health. This pressure that these coaches put upon their players’ may lead them to depression, and possibly suicidal thoughts. I have seen the deterioration of student-athletes mental state of mind, because I have gone through it. I have visited the sports psychologist to try to get myself back on track, but I was falling into a depressive state. Unable to sleep, constantly eating my emotions away, lacking energy, or motivation. I know I haven’t had it as worse as the other athletes that I’ve heard from. Athletes going to bed hungry, after losing their match, because the coach refuses to feed them after a loss. Coaches constantly badgering their players with cruel words “you’re fat, lose some weight.” “You are lucky to have this scholarship, which I give you, I can easily take it away.” “You’re not on the line up, because you are black” “I don’t like that medium size shirt on you, wear a small next time”. The abuse goes on, sexually, emotionally, verbally. This is constant. Coaches are not punished for their behaviors, in fact they are rewarded when they bring home the win.

How much longer are we, Student-Athletes, going to sit around and watch as our mental health crumbles because of coaches that get away with their methods? I propose to the NCAA and to Universities all over the country to end this mal-treatment against athletes. If student-athletes are evaluated every year, then coaches should be evaluated every year as-well. Athletes should be able to speak out, and say what is going on, instead of being shut down by the athletic department, or too terrified because of their scholarship. If “WE” play for your school, and represent your university, then “WE” should have the right to be treated like human beings, and the right to speak out about any type of harassment, WITHOUT having OUR scholarship threatened or taken away.