Young athletes who wish to pursue playing football in college should understand the dangerous environment that they will be entering. As early as 9th grade, colleges begin to track students who perform above average in athletics. Communications could come from emails and visits and only escalate as the athlete enters his final two years of High School. Any web search will show articles on colleges committing major NCAA rules violations and pending investigations. Then in college, young athletes must manuever through the many sports agencies and agents who tempt them with investing their future by signing a representation contract.
Opinions vary as to where the blame lies and it doesn't provide any guidance for a young man entering into adulthood. The NCAA, as of August 2011 is attempting to change their rulebook with what it deems are too many vague rulings and others all-together invalid to help amateur athletics. They have begun a preliminary committee as of January to change rules violations from the current 'major/minor' structure to more of a comprehensive, multi-layered model. And they are looking at changes to improving academic standards for athletes as well.
College coaches have spoken out against sports agents improperly recruiting athletes such as Alabama's Nick Saban and former Florida (now Ohio State) coach, Urban Meyer. NCAA President Mark Emmert has been quick to listen to these voices and then act to begin to correct the problems. Unfortunately, families of athletes and the athletes themselves must wait till these changes come to pass in the next several years. Young athletes must do extra work in reading articles and researching recruitment to be savvy to its dangerous temptations.
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