Amateur college athletics associations, like the American College Athletics Association and the Amateur Athletic Union, have traditionally resisted professionalization of college athletes.
Some figure skaters receive compensation for coaching and endorsements, and might be considered to be professionals by some athletics organizations. This may have created problems for some skaters seeking athletics scholarships.
Some time ago I posted about here about the Northwestern University football team's attempt to unionize, and be recognized as employees, and the possibility that this might indirectly affect figure skating.
(For some reason, I can't find the post.)
The U.S. National Labor Relations board
recently found that the university's foot players are "employees", and can unionize.
[Note: The University had until 4/9/2014 to appeal. I don't know whether they did. I also don't know if any of the amateur athletics associations other than USFSA have taken any action allowing amateur athletes to be compensated.]
As you can see
here, and
here, not everyone in the amateur athletics organizations and the academic community are thrilled with the result.
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Does anyone here with legal knowledge know if this is relevant to figure skating, and have any comments?