Each NCAA division has developed specific proposals to further modernize these rules for student-athletes. The proposals are based on the action the NCAA Board of Governors took at its April 28, 2020 meeting, which outlines specific categories in which student-athletes could earn compensation from their name, image and likeness.
Taking Action
Name, Image and Likeness
Looking Forward | Timeline | Q&A | Statements | Resources | News
The College Athlete Model
The NCAA is committed to allow name, image and likeness opportunities for student-athletes consistent with the college athlete model.
The college athlete model is not the professional model, meaning students will compete against other students, not professionals or employees.
The NCAA is best positioned to provide a uniform and fair name, image and likeness approach for all student-athletes on a national scale.
Looking Forward
The NCAA’s highest governing body has taken unprecedented steps to allow college athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness.
At its meeting in April 2020, the Board of Governors supported rule changes to allow student-athletes to receive compensation for third-party endorsements both related to and separate from athletics. It also supports compensation for other student-athlete opportunities, such as social media, businesses they have started and personal appearances within the guiding principles originally outlined by the board in October 2019.
Those principles including the following:
- Assure student-athletes are treated similarly to non-athlete students unless a compelling reason exists to differentiate.
- Maintain the priorities of education and the collegiate experience to provide opportunities for student-athlete success.
- Ensure rules are transparent, focused and enforceable and facilitate fair and balanced competition.
- Make clear the distinction between collegiate and professional opportunities.
- Make clear that compensation for athletics performance or participation is impermissible.
- Reaffirm that student-athletes are students first and not employees of the university.
- Enhance principles of diversity, inclusion and gender equity.
- Protect the recruiting environment and prohibit inducements to select, remain at, or transfer to a specific institution.
TIMELINE
Member schools in each division will continue to examine the issue, provide feedback and prepare for future rules changes.
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Oct. 29, 2019
Board of Governors directs divisions to create flexibility in name, image and likeness rules.
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Jan. 22-25, 2020
Status update and discussion of general concepts during division-specific delegate sessions at the NCAA Convention.
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April 28-29, 2020
Updates to divisional presidential committees and the Federal and State Legislation Working Group reports to Board of Governors during NCAA governance meetings.
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Spring/summer 2020
Continued discussion and feedback in each division.
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Sept. 1, 2020
Each division develops initial legislative proposals.
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Nov. 1, 2020
Each division drafts legislation to update NIL rules.
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January 2021
Each division is expected to consider name, image and likeness rules at the 2021 NCAA Convention. Anticipated effective dates are no later than the start of 2021-22 academic year.
Questions and Answers
Yes. The Board of Governors directed each division to create rules using the principles and guidelines it approved in October 2019 and the recommendations it approved April 28, 2020. There are many examples now where each NCAA division has different rules, including in areas such as recruiting, financial aid, and playing and practice seasons. As a fundamental framework of the Association, member schools choose the division in which they compete and agree to follow the rules within that division. All three divisions will implement changes consistent with the principles within the NCAA constitution and endorsed by the Board of Governors.
It is critical that college sports are regulated at a national level. This ensures the uniformity of rules and a level playing field for student-athletes. Some of these laws allow for nearly unregulated use of NIL by student-athletes, while other bills under consideration would erode the NCAA’s ability to maintain the collegiate model even further, undermining the NCAA’s model of amateur intercollegiate athletics and threatening to transform student-athletes into paid professional employees of their schools. The evolving legal and legislative landscape around these issues could not only undermine college sports as a part of higher education but also significantly limit the NCAA’s ability to meet the needs of college athletes moving forward.
Read the complete list of Q&As.
News
- DIII Presidents Council withdraws name, image and likeness proposal (Jan. 14, 2021)
- DI Board of Directors affirms DI Council decision to delay name, image and likeness, transfer decisions (Jan. 14, 2021)
- Board of Governors supports postponing name, image and likeness votes (Jan. 13, 2021)
- DII Presidents Council votes to withdraw NIL proposal (Jan. 12, 2021)
Statements and Positions
- Board of Governors moves toward allowing student-athlete compensation for endorsements and promotions (Apr. 29, 2020)
- NIL reforms for student-athletes stressed at Senate subcommittee hearing (Feb. 12, 2020)
- Statement from Federal and State Legislation Working Group co-chairs on name, image and likeness efforts (Jan. 24, 2020)
- College Sports Insider: Name, Image and Likeness - What's Happening Today (Jan. 17, 2020)
- Student-athlete voices on name, image and likeness (Jan. 17, 2020)
- NCAA statement on Senate working group (Dec. 6, 2019)
- Board of Governors starts process to enhance name, image and likeness opportunities (Oct. 29, 2019)
- NCAA statement on Gov. Newsom signing SB 206 (Sept. 30, 2019)
- NCAA responds to California Senate Bill 206 (Sept. 11 2019)
Resources
- INSIDE THE NCAA: Division I Name, Image and Likeness Update
- INSIDE THE NCAA: Division II Name, Image and Likeness Update
- INSIDE THE NCAA: Division III Name, Image and Likeness Update
- 2021 NCAA Division I Name, Image and Likeness Proposals Question and Answer Document
- 2021 NCAA Convention Division II Legislative Proposals Question and Answer Guide
- 2021 NCAA Division III Legislative Proposals Questions and Answers
- NCAA Board of Governors Federal and State Legislation Working Group Final Report and Recommendation
- Federal and State Legislation Working Group Charge and Roster
- Name, Image, Likeness: What Student-Athletes Should Know
- October 2019 Federal and State Legislation Working Group Report
- NCAA Board of Governors October 2019 Report
- NCAA Working Group to Examine Name, Image and Likeness (May 2019)
- Additional Membership Information