Hania Taduran: Athletes Without Support

Beach volleyball was added as an NCAA Division I sport in 2016. This makes it an incredibly new addition, and that, in itself, presents challenges. Not to mention that women’s sports, in general, often receive less resources, viewership, and respect. Women’s sports are frequently overlooked, with far less media coverage and fan support than their male counterparts. A 2022 NCAA gender inequality report revealed that men’s D1 college teams receive double the funding of women’s teams. Alongside the gender discrepancies, there is a deeper systemic issue in collegiate athletics: the prioritization of certain programs over others. In these gaps, sports like beach volleyball are left to fend for themselves.

The beach volleyball program at my school, like many other sports, not only lacked adequate resources to succeed but was also denied them after repeated requests, with no plan for improvement or development within the program. The team had no full-time head coach, locker room, or usable game and practice film, which are necessities for any high-level competitive Division 1 program. Despite years of promises for improved facilities, coaching, and resources, nothing has changed. Coaches had to split their time between indoor and beach volleyball, preventing focused training. Oftentimes, players had to run practice themselves due to indoor volleyball taking priority. Even the coaches' efforts to secure more resources were denied by the athletic administration. This lack of support from the athletic department as a whole made the team feel their voices were unimportant and neglected.

When I committed to this university, I expected to be part of a D1 NCAA program. Instead, I was met with empty promises and an environment that treated beach volleyball as an afterthought, while revenue-driving programs like men’s basketball always received the lion’s share of attention and resources. This is not about undermining other sports, but rather about ensuring that all programs receive the support they deserve, especially considering that the school chose to add the sport in the first place. Denying resources to certain programs simply because they are newer or less profitable is unacceptable.

Despite broken promises, I stayed, hoping for change and determined to help develop the new program. My teammates and I took it upon ourselves to advocate to multiple administrators, pleading for the bare minimum of help. Time and time again, our efforts were shut down. We even spent time brainstorming fundraising ideas, reaching out to alumni, and creating cost-free solutions. As time passed, it became clear that nothing was changing. I was fighting a battle that I was always going to lose and carrying a burden no athlete should have to handle. I continuously met with the athletic director and administrators to advocate for better resources and support, but we were met with the same response: “This is a business,” and “It’s all about revenue.” Even fundraising and donations to a specific sport could be split or prioritized by the department to support the programs they deem most necessary, typically the top revenue-generating sports.

This “business-first” mentality is not unique to this school, but a reflection of a broader issue within NCAA athletics. Oftentimes, the problem lies not with the athletes or coaches but with the athletic departments that fail to prioritize these programs. The truth is that college sports are built on money, not on the well-being of the athletes themselves. The teams that generate the most revenue get the most attention and resources, and those that don’t are often treated as expendable.

The mental toll of being neglected is immense. The pressure to constantly perform, while being told our sport wasn’t important enough to warrant proper support, led to a feeling of worthlessness. When talking to my peers, I repeatedly heard statements like, "Winning is their main goal”. It's no wonder that only 10% of student-athletes with known mental health conditions seek help from a mental health professional. In the NCAA Student-Athlete Well-Being Study conducted in 2020, less than half of student-athletes believed their mental health was a priority for their athletics department, and 50% stated they felt their coaches took their mental health concerns seriously. When athletes don't feel viewed as people or supported in their struggles, it creates an environment where speaking up about mental health becomes incredibly difficult, contributing to the larger crisis in college sports.

Transferring to FIU, an established and respected beach volleyball program, showed me what a well-funded and well-supported program looks like. The contrast was striking, and it was hard not to regret the years spent at a school where the program was treated as secondary. I've learned that schools must actively choose to invest in both their sports and, most importantly, their athletes. If a school is going to add a sport, it must plan to develop it just like it would any other program.

There are many sports that continue to be underfunded and neglected. This systemic issue doesn’t just affect athletes’ performance; it harms their mental and emotional well-being. These programs often lack the infrastructure, coaches, and facilities necessary to succeed. But beyond the financial and logistical concerns, it’s the lack of respect and recognition that truly hurts. When athletes are treated as expendable and their mental health is ignored, it creates a toxic environment that undermines their ability to succeed. Not just as students or athletes, but as people.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my experiences in playing an underfunded and neglected sport, and discussing it is the key to bringing about change. In order to create meaningful change, schools and athletic departments need to prioritize the well-being of all athletes. Underfunded programs need the resources and support to thrive. It’s time to stop treating college sports as a business at the expense of the athletes who give their all. We must invest in holistic development, ensuring that health, growth, and well-being come first. Our athletes deserve better than being treated as disposable. They deserve a system that truly values their contributions and supports their mental and physical health.