This is a huge move toward change in the NCAA – collegiate athletes will see the benefits of their hard work. For the interim collegiate athletes will have the opportunity to benefit from their name, image, and likeness as of July 1, 2021. This announcement suspends all NCAA name, image, and likeness rules for all incoming and current student-athletes in all sports across all 3 divisions.
NCAA President Mark Emmert states, “This is an important day for college athletes since they all are now able to take advantage of name, image, and likeness opportunities. With the variety of state laws adopted across the country, we will continue to work with Congress to develop a solution that will provide clarity on a national level. The current environment — both legal and legislative — prevents us from providing a more permanent solution and the level of detail student-athletes deserve.”
The policy provides the following guidance to college athletes, recruits, their families, and member schools:
- Individuals can engage in NIL activities that are consistent with the law of the state where the school is located. Colleges and universities may be a resource for state law questions.
- College athletes who attend a school in a state without a NIL law can engage in this type of activity without violating NCAA rules related to name, image, and likeness.
- Individuals can use a professional services provider for NIL activities.
- Student-athletes should report NIL activities consistent with state law or school and conference requirements to their school.
NBA Superstar LeBron James has been an advocate for this Fair Pay to Play Act. He shares his views in this video courtesy of CNBC
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/10/01/lebron-james-on-support-for-fair-pay-to-play-act.html
“Today, NCAA members voted to allow college athletes to benefit from name, image, and likeness opportunities, no matter where their school is located,” said Division I Board of Director’s chair Denise Trauth, president at Texas State. “With this interim solution in place, we will continue to work with Congress to adopt federal legislation to support student-athletes.”
The new interim policy does not change in regards to pay-for-play and improper inducements tied to choosing to attend a particular school.
“The new policy preserves the fact college sports are not pay-for-play,” said Division II Presidents Council chair Sandra Jordan, chancellor at the University of South Carolina Aiken. “It also reinforces key principles of fairness and integrity across the NCAA and maintains rules prohibiting improper recruiting inducements. It’s important any new rules maintain these principles.”
The temporary policy will remain in place until federal legislation or new NCAA rules are adopted. With the NIL interim policy, schools and conferences may choose to adopt their own additional policies. You can learn more about the new policy by clicking here to read more: NCAA
