"Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live on dreams?" (NIL Rules under NCAA)

The original creator of this blog, a long time rugby player, coach, ref, and lawyer began this effort out of an interest in the law and rugby.  Dan's work in education was an obvious link for these topics.  While much has changed, included a viable NCAA women's collegiate pathway, in recent years, the opening of NIL has further changed the landscape of collegiate athletics.  The Wisconsin State Athletic Association (WIAA) opened it's doors to NIL a year ago, in order to head off any possible litigation.  They most likely had no choice.  

For any student-athlete who plans to compete at the NCAA college level, there are certainly a myriad of rules and regulations to be aware of.

The College Sports Commission and the NCAA now require that high school and junior college athletes report any name, image & likeness (NIL) agreements that meet certain criteria.

 

Here are the key details:

• The rule applies to any NIL deal worth $600 or more that was agreed to, executed, or includes payments after July 1, 2025, or after the student-athlete’s first day of their junior year, whichever comes later.
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• Reporting must be done via the new clearinghouse - NIL Go - at https://nilgo.com/login
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• Failure to report such deals can result in loss of eligibility
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• NIL payments must serve a valid business purpose (e.g., promoting goods/services sold for profit). Traditional “pay-for-play” arrangements do not qualify.
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• These rules also apply to junior college athletes under the settlement framework.
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• While the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) does not require high school disclosure of NIL deals, this national rule will apply to any student‐athlete who plans to play at a Division I institution.
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• To protect your future eligibility and to be proactive, we recommend that any student-athlete keep a record of all NIL discussions, agreements, and payments, and ask questions if you are unsure whether an opportunity qualifies.

 

We encourage all families and student‐athletes to review any engagements, keep good documentation, and reach out to NIL education partners like Influential Athlete, if you have any questions. We want to ensure every athlete is prepared and aware of their obligations and opportunities under these new rules.

With rugby athletes like Iona Maher enjoying enormous social media success, it no longer feels like a pipe dream to envision rugby influencers tapping into these opportunities.   

As Alfred Lord Tennyson once said, "Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live on dreams?"