NCAA NIL rules: what american college athletes need to know

The rules around Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals have changed again. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which is the governing body for college sports in the USA, has recently tightened compliance, impacting college athletes and the way they work with brands for endorsements.

To make the most of your NIL opportunities while staying compliant, you need to understand these updates.

How these changes impact athletes

The NCAA’s new NIL rules require athletes to report all NIL deals through an official platform, providing proof of payments and contracts.

An enforcement team will now investigate violations, and athletes risk penalties, including loss of eligibility, if their deals don’t comply. Partnerships must also be verified to prevent “pay-for-play” deals, meaning athletes must actively promote their brand partners.

To stay ahead, athletes need to keep contracts organised, work with reputable brands, and build a strong personal brand with a media kit to showcase their value.

Ascend Sports Publicity currently helps college athletes with this including:

• streamlining and putting in place a contract management system to ensure all NCAA requirements are met

• connecting athletes with legitimate brands and partners to ensure compliance that maintains amateur status

• developing a tailored brand and sponsorship strategy that aligns with NCAA requirements to proactively promote brand partners

• supporting athletes to build a sustainable, long-term brand that can easily transfer from amateur to pro, and

• preparing essential documents, including a professional media kit and endorsement contracts.

At Ascend Sports Publicity, we’ve helped global athletes in the US college system build strong personal brands and secure long-term sponsorships, without the hassle of wrangling NCAA guidelines. With tailored strategies, media training, and contract management, we ensure athletes stay compliant while maximizing their NIL opportunities.

What are Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) deals?

Name, Image, Likeness deals allow college athletes to earn money through endorsements, social media promotions, sponsorships, and appearances. Since 2021, athletes have been able to monetize their personal brand without losing eligibility.

However, the new NCAA NIL policy brings more oversight and accountability. And athletes may now lose eligibility if they don’t follow the stricter regulations.

Follow Ascend Sports Publicity’s tips to comply with the NIL changes:

• keep all NIL contracts, invoices and receipts, as you will need them to show compliance

• work only with legitimate brands and NIL marketplaces to avoid penalties

• use a tool, such as Ascend Sports Publicity’s NIL compliance tracker (available by emailing contact@ascendsportspr.com) to stay organised

• speak to your school’s NIL compliance office to ensure every deal aligns with updated policies

• have an Ascend Sports Publicity Sports Manager review and verify contracts for you before signing NIL agreements

• create high quality NIL content showcasing brand partnerships and post them to social media accounts

• provide your endorsement partners with a report outlining your promotional work.

How Ascend Sports Publicity Can Help

Navigating the NIL landscape can be overwhelming. Ascend Sports Publicity helps athletes secure NIL deals while staying compliant.

At Ascend Sports Publicity, we’ve helped global athletes in the US College system build strong personal brands and secure long-term sponsorships, without the hassle of wrangling NCAA guidelines.

With tailored strategies, media training, and contract management, we ensure athletes stay compliant while maximizing their NIL opportunities.

Special offers to help NIL athletes

Email contact@ascendsportspr.com with the subject header “ASCEND NIL” to take advantage of our current special offers for college athletes:

Special offer 1: Media Kit Service: a media kit is a must-have for all NIL deals: it showcases your brand identity, audience reach, and partnership value. Get a one-page professional media kit tailored for NIL sponsorships for just $US99.

Special offer 2: NIL Strategy Consultation: maximise your NIL opportunities with a one-hour online consult with a sports manager that includes a personalised NIL strategy session for you and creation of a one-page professional sports media kit, and a sponsorship outreach template for just $US199.

The NIL era is evolving—stay ahead and build a profitable athlete brand today!

Email contact@ascendsportspr.com for more information.