NCAA to Decide Whether to Allow Division I Athletes to Earn Money

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

In a report from the Associated Press, the NCAA is moving closer to allowing Division I athletes to earn money from endorsements and sponsorship deals.

The recommended rule change would allow athletes to be able to profit off their own name, image and likeness while in school. This proposed rule would help NCAA Division I athletes, including swimmers, earn prize money at events such as USA Swimming Pro Swim Series meets, and also give them opportunities to make money off of breaking world records.

The recommended rule change is being reviewed by college sports administrators this week and will be sent to the NCAA Board of Governors, which meets Monday and Tuesday next week.

The recommendations are expected to form the foundation for legislation that the NCAA hopes to pass next January so it can take effect in 2021. Changes could still be made before January.

The NCAA has long prohibited its student athletes from earning any sort of prize and endorsement money, citing the need for amateurism. But in September 2019, California passed a law that will go into effect in 2023, where students in the state — at both public and private institutions — will be permitted to sign deals with advertisers and profit from their names and likenesses, just like the pros. Other states followed suit with so called “name, image and likeness” provisions, notably Florida, which passed a bill that would go into effect in the summer of 2021 if signed by the governor. NCAA president Mark Emmert in 2018 specifically cited a so-called “Olympic model” similar to what is being proposed now as a possibility.

If the rules are approved by the board, student-athletes would be allowed to sign sponsorship and endorsement deals with companies. Details are still being discussed and debated. Athletes would also be allowed to enter into agreements with individuals deemed school boosters, and will also be allowed to sign autographs for money, sell their memorabilia, and be paid for personal appearances and working as an instructor in their sport.

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