The NCAA Division I Board of Governors passed a transitional policy on Wednesday that would allow college athletes to monetize their names, pictures, and likenesses for the first time. This “bridge” waiver comes just one day before the NIL locks open in 12 states on July 1st.
This waiver is designed to cover athletes across the country and will last until either federal law is passed or a more permanent NIL rule can be created by the NCAA. It sets minimum regulations for the new world of college sports, where athletes can make money from referrals, sponsorship, and social media, among other things.
Board approval comes two days after a formal recommendation from the Division I Council.
“This is an important day for college athletes as they now have every opportunity to learn about name, image and likeness,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. “Given the variety of laws passed nationwide, we will continue to work with Congress to develop a solution that will provide clarity at the national level. The current environment – both legal and legislative – prevents us from offering a more permanent solution and the level of detail that student athletes deserve. “
The goal of the transition policy is to enable athletes in states with no NIL laws on the books to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities without breaking NCAA rules. In particular, the NCAA stands firm that the waiver “leaves the obligation to avoid pay-for-play and inappropriate incentives in connection with the decision to attend a particular school,” as it wrote in a press release on Monday.
In accordance with the new policy, the NCAA college athletes, recruits, their families, and member schools have issued the following guidelines:
- Individuals can participate in NIL activities that are compatible with the law of the state in which the school is located. Colleges and universities are responsible for determining whether these activities are compatible with state law.
- College athletes attending a school in a state with no NIL law can participate in this type of activity without breaking NCAA rules for name, image, and likeness.
- Individuals can hire a professional service provider for NIL activities.
- Student athletes should report NIL activities to their school in accordance with state laws or the requirements of schools and conferences.
In a Q&A distributed to school sports directors and compliance departments, the NCAA also clarified that athletes with boosters can enter into NIL agreements, “provided the activity is in accordance with state law and school policy, is not an improper incentive or payment to play.”
Additionally, aspiring student-athletes who are still in high school can also participate in the same types of NIL opportunities without affecting their NCAA eligibility. Likewise, such opportunities “must not be used as an incentive to recruit or as a substitute for pay-for-play”.
“The new policy maintains the fact that college sports are not paid,” said Sandra Jordan, Chair of the Division II Presidential Council. “It also reaffirms key principles of fairness and integrity throughout the NCAA and upholds rules that do Prohibit inappropriate incentives for recruitment. It is important that all new rules maintain these principles. “
While all three NCAA divisions must adopt the change through their governance processes – Divisions II and III also voted on Wednesday – the greatest pressure is on Division I, which is home to all of the major income-producing schools.
Although the NCAA waited until the last moment to approve the waiver, it is still a strategic move. In this way, it avoids enacting new rules that might be the subject of legal proceedings in the hopes that federal laws will sooner or later be passed.
However, such a bill may never go hand-in-hand with already politicized Senate legislation. In general, Republicans want an antitrust exemption for the NCAA, while Democrats advocate long-term medical care and extended scholarships to ensure athletes earn degrees.
The NCAA has at least temporarily saved itself from waiving NIL benefits. Members became more and more nervous at the prospect after the Supreme Court heavily criticized the NCAA when it announced its NCAA ruling against Alston earlier this month.
In the past two years, the NCAA has begun changing the basis of its bylaws for amateurism to consider paying athletes for commercials, endorsements, autographs, and the like. However, the NCAA has passed formal NIL law since January due to several concerns. What it turns out is a feeling of despair within the members as the NCAA was lacking direction. With the wait and increasing legal issues, athletes are likely to receive unprecedented benefits for their talents.
Of the two dozen states that have passed the NIL legislation, July 1st applies to 12. Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Two states, Louisiana and Missouri, are awaiting signatures from their respective governors. A total of 40 states have at least introduced NIL laws, 10 of which have not yet: Alaska, Delaware, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming.
r n
r nSource: https: / / blackchronicle.com / ncaa-approves-interim-name-image-and-likeness-policy-removing-restrictions-for-college-athletes-to-earn-money /? utm_source = rss & utm_medium = rss & utm_campaign = ncaa-approves-interim-name-image-and-likeness-policy-removing-restrictions-for-college-athletes-to-earn-money “,” author “: {” @ type “:” Person “,” name “:” thepinkreportnews “,” url “:” https: / / thepinkreportnews.com / author / thepinkreportnews / “,” sameAs “:[“http://thepinkreportnews.com”]}, “articleSection”:[“Women”], “image”: {“@ type”: “ImageObject”, “url”: “https: / / thepinkreportnews.com / wp-content / uploads / 2021 / 04 / bprw-new-baltimore -based-entertainment-company-to-spotlight-local-talent-news-the-black-chronicle.png “,” width “: 1115,” height “: 225},” publisher “: {” @ type “:” Organization “,” name “:” “,” url “:” https: / / thepinkreportnews.com “,” logo “: {” @ type “:” ImageObject “,” url “:” “},” sameAs “:[“http://facebook.com”,”http://twitter.com”,”https://plus.google.com/+Jegtheme”,”http://youtube.com”,”http://jnews.jegtheme.com/default/feed/”]}}
