<P> A student athlete ( sometimes written student -- athlete ) is a participant in an organized competitive sport sponsored by the educational institution in which he or she is enrolled . Student athletes must typically balance the roles of being a full - time student and a full - time athlete . Due to educational institutions being colleges , they offer athletic scholarships in various sports . Many student athletes are compensated with scholarships to attend these institutions but these scholarships are not mandatory to be considered a student athlete . In the United States , athletic scholarships are largely regulated by either the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) or the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) , which sets minimum standards for both the individuals awarded the scholarships ( in terms of GPAs and standardized test scores ) and for the institutions granting them ( in terms of the form and value of the scholarships and the proportion of recipients who must ultimately earn degrees ) . The term student - athlete was coined in 1964 by Walter Byers , the first - ever executive director of the NCAA , to counter attempts to require universities to pay workers ' compensation . </P>
<P> A student athlete ( sometimes written student -- athlete ) is a participant in an organized competitive sport sponsored by the educational institution in which he or she is enrolled . Student athletes must typically balance the roles of being a full - time student and a full - time athlete . Due to educational institutions being colleges , they offer athletic scholarships in various sports . Many student athletes are compensated with scholarships to attend these institutions but these scholarships are not mandatory to be considered a student athlete . In the United States , athletic scholarships are largely regulated by either the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) or the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) , which sets minimum standards for both the individuals awarded the scholarships ( in terms of GPAs and standardized test scores ) and for the institutions granting them ( in terms of the form and value of the scholarships and the proportion of recipients who must ultimately earn degrees ) . The term student - athlete was coined in 1964 by Walter Byers , the first - ever executive director of the NCAA , to counter attempts to require universities to pay workers ' compensation . </P>
where did the term student athlete come from
where did the term student athlete come from
Walter Byers , the first - ever executive director of the NCAA
Walter Byers , the first - ever executive director of the NCAA