NCAA: NIL Reform
Topic Synopsis
There are currently over 520,000 student athletes participating in the NCAA. 450,000 have some form of Name, Image, Likeness (or NIL) deal.
In 2019 California passed legislation to allow college athletes to be paid. Other states soon followed suit, setting in motion what some saw as long awaited justice for student athletes… or the end of college amateur sports. NIL has allowed college athletes to be paid money for any promotional or merchandise involving their likeness. Universities do not pay the athletes directly. Instead they are paid in advertising deals with business, from local restaurants to international conglomerates. Additionally, they can be paid with an “NIL Collective” where certain groups related to a university (alumni, special interest groups, etc.) can pool money and exchange it with the athlete for some form of service. The overall goal of these collectives is to attract interest from talented athletes to their respective universities.
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Though NIL deals are widespread, the money athletes make varies drastically. They range from a few hundred dollars all the way up to the highest paid NCAA athlete—University of Colorado at Boulder's star quarterback Sheduer Sanders—who made a whopping 6.5 million in his collegiate career. Less high profile athletes can still benefit from NIL. Many brands have options to reach out and make small amounts of money from participating in some of their marketing. Though the new NIL policies seem to democratize the sport and free student-athletes from risking their academic careers or professional prospects, it also has its downsides. Many fans view NIL as the catalyst for a financial arms race as university athletic program donors work to gather massive sums to pay for the top available talent in the NCAA.
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Those are some examples of the issues you will have to address to properly regulate NIL rules while supporting the athletes and appeasing donors and executives. Delegates must consider: How will your decisions affect the fan enjoyment of the sports? What are the financial repercussions to the NCAA, athletes and university athletic programs with your decisions? How will this change the academic landscapes of universities? Good luck.
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