“Athletic privilege” is a concept that refers to the inherent advantages enjoyed by student-athletes at certain colleges and universities due to the superior resources, facilities, and support systems provided by their athletic departments.
This term underscores the significant disparities that exist within collegiate athletics, where larger and more financially endowed institutions often offer their student-athletes a distinct advantage over those attending smaller colleges with limited resources.
These advantages typically encompass various aspects, including state-of-the-art athletic facilities, well-equipped training centers, comprehensive meal plans, access to specialized coaching staff, and top-tier athletic equipment. Athletes at institutions with athletic privilege may benefit from advanced sports science and medical support, extensive travel budgets, and enhanced academic assistance tailored to accommodate their athletic commitments.
Athletic privilege can confer a competitive edge in terms of physical development, skill refinement, and overall performance, potentially influencing recruitment, team success, and individual achievement within collegiate sports. This concept highlights the need for greater equity and fairness in collegiate athletics, as it underscores how disparities in resources can disproportionately affect the opportunities and outcomes of student-athletes.
“Athletic Privilege” should not be confused with “Athlete Privilege,” which refers to the the advantages and benefits that athletes, especially those who excel in sports at the highest levels, may enjoy in various aspects of their lives. These advantages can manifest in several ways, including academic (Fuller et al., 2017), financial, legal, social (Robertshaw, 2020), educational, and wellness privilege (Coombs, 2022; Fuller et al., 2017; Jayakumar et al., 2023; Leonard, 2017; Loveland et al., 2020; Robertshaw, 2020; Simons et al., 2007).
References
Coombs, H. (2022, November 14). Athlete Privilege. Hayden Coombs. https://haydencoombs.com/2022/11/14/athlete-privilege/
Fuller, R. D., Lawrence, S. M., Harrison, C. K., Eyanson, J., & Osika, L. (2017). Perks for Players: High School Teachers’ Perceptions of Athletic Privilege. American Secondary Education, 45(2), 39–55. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45147894
Jayakumar, U. M., Kidder, W. C., Comeaux, E., & Thaxton, S. (2023). Race and Privilege Misunderstood: Athletics and Selective College Admissions in (and Beyond) the Supreme Court Affirmative Action Cases. U.C.L.A. Law Review, 70, 230–264.
Leonard, D. J. (2017). Playing while white: Privilege and power on and off the field. University of Washington Press.
Loveland, M., Grant, K., & Mishra, V. (2020). College Students’ Perceptions of Athlete versus Non-Athlete Privilege.
Robertshaw, H. (2020, December 1). Athletic privilege. The Everyday. https://theeverydaymagazine.co.uk/sports-1/athletic-privilege
Simons, H. D., Bosworth, C., Fujita, S., & Jensen, M. (2007). The athlete stigma in higher education. College Student Journal, 41(2), 251-274.
Hayden Coombs 