July 1st 2021 is a momentous day in college sports. Some will say it’s decades too late, but the fact that we’ve finally arrived at this point is something current and former athletes alike doubted they’d ever see. That’s because as of Thursday, every NCAA athlete in America will finally be able to make money off endorsements and other ventures while in school.
The NCAA’s board of directors decided on Wednesday that they would suspend their ban on athletes being able to sell the rights to their name, image, or likeness. But before you start thinking that the NCAA finally developed a conscience, bear in mind that this abrupt policy change comes on the heels of the supreme court ruling against them in their ongoing “economics of amateurism” case.
As of Thursday, whether the NCAA liked it or not, laws would come into effect in over a dozen states which would make it illegal for schools to bar student athletes from turning a profit off their image. Rather than face a competitive balance problem (whereby any athlete worth their salt would likely commit to a school in a state where they could build their “brands”), the NCAA finally relented and rescinded the rule altogether. At least for the time being.
Schools still cannot pay players directly under the new guidelines, however students are now able to market themselves and earn a livable wage off their local (and often national) standing. While the minutiae of what will or will not be permitted under the new rules has yet to be fully released, initial reports indicate that the following items will be permitted moving forwards:
-Monetized social media accounts
-Autographed memorabilia/signing sessions
-Teaching camps/private lessons
-Marketing campaigns for 3rd parties
-Running their own business
Whether the new rules will permit athletes to use their school’s logo, name, or other copyrighted materials remains to be seen, and could very well come down to a state by state or even school by school basis.
You can count on some of the most high profile athletes around the country in sports such as football, hockey, baseball, and basketball to make announcements as early as tomorrow regarding new partnerships. What will truly be interesting to see is how these new rules affect some of the “lesser known” players around the country in sports outside of the big 4 in North America.
Whatever the case, this is welcome news to athletes around the US.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner