NCAA Examining Name, Image, Likeness Affect

 

 

Recently, the NCAA Division I Council took a deep look into how name, image, and likeness (NIL) is affecting student-athletes, including influence on school choice and transferring, and the impact on academics and student mental health. The Council is considering adjustments to the Interim NIL Policy and/or NCAA rules and has provided additional NIL guidance specific to third-party involvement and the recruiting process. 

TCU Athletics thanks alumni, local businesses and fans for the value they are bringing to the Fort Worth community., and reminds you that as you continue to develop NIL ideas and activities, TCU and its staff members cannot be involved in facilitating or arranging NIL opportunities for TCU student-athletes. NIL activity must be separate from the institution and opportunities can not be tied to a prospective student-athlete’s or student-athlete’s enrollment or continued enrollment at TCU. 

If you want to form new NIL relationships with student-athletes, we suggest accessing TCU's NIL Directory (here)  and reaching out to student-athletes directly. Additionally, keep the TCU Athletics office informed of student-athlete NIL activities.

Here are some highlights from the attached NIL guidance:

Guidance Related to Prospective Student-Athletes

• Recruiting conversations between an individual or entity that has triggered booster status (“booster/NIL entity”) and a PSA are not permissible.
• Booster/NIL entity may not communicate (e.g., call, text, direct message) with a PSA, a PSA’s family, or others affiliated with the PSA for a recruiting purpose or to encourage the PSA’s enrollment at a particular institution.
• An NIL agreement between a PSA and a booster/NIL entity may not be guaranteed or promised contingent on initial or continuing enrollment at a particular institution.
• Institutional coaches and staff may not organize, facilitate or arrange a meeting between a booster/NIL entity and a PSA (e.g., provide the individual or entity with a recruiting list or watch list, including the NCAA Transfer Portal).
• Institutional coaches and staff may not communicate directly or indirectly with a PSA on behalf of a booster/NIL entity.
• NIL agreements must be based on an independent, case-by-case analysis of the value that each athlete brings to an NIL agreement as opposed to providing compensation or incentives for enrollment decisions (e.g., signing a letter of intent or transferring), athletic performance (e.g., points scored, minutes played, winning a contest), achievement (e.g., starting position, award winner) or membership on a team (e.g., being on roster).

Guidance Related to Current Student-Athletes

• An NIL agreement between a student-athlete and a booster/NIL entity may not be guaranteed or promised contingent on initial or continuing enrollment at a particular institution.
• NIL agreements must be based on an independent, case-by-case analysis of the value that each athlete brings to an NIL agreement as opposed to providing compensation or incentives for enrollment decisions (e.g., signing a letter of intent or transferring), athletic performance (e.g., points scored, minutes played, winning a contest), achievement (e.g., starting position, award winner) or membership on a team.

NCAA Interim NIL Policy Guidance: here  

 Contact the TCU Compliance Office for additional information: 817-257-4614