Understanding NIL: What Every Athlete and Parent Needs to Know
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has transformed youth, high school, and college sports. The rules continue to evolve, giving athletes new opportunities to earn income from their personal brand - while also introducing responsibilities they must understand to protect their eligibility. That’s why we’ve partnered with Influential Athlete, the premier NIL education company, to provide clear, trusted guidance and support for all our members.
NIL can open the door to everything from small earning opportunities that help make school more affordable to life-changing income that supports an athlete or their family. But with these opportunities come important rules, requirements, and boundaries. Whether an athlete chooses to pursue NIL or not, NIL is now part of the athlete experience and knowing how it works is essential.
NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness - essentially an athlete’s personal brand.
NIL allows student-athletes to earn money with their brand from things like:
Social media posts
Brand partnerships
Coaching at camps, clinics, and making appearances
Selling merchandise or autographs
Business ventures tied to their identity as an athlete
And they can do all of this without losing their eligibility, as long as they follow the rules.
Recent NIL Changes You Should Know
The NIL landscape continues to shift quickly. Here are the most important updates:
1. NJSIAA Change: High School Athletes in New Jersey Can Now Profit From NIL
Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Name, Image, and Likeness for student- athletes, the three states updated their respective bylaws to allow high school athletes to earn money from their Name, Image, and Likeness without risking their eligibility, however, there are rules in place for what an athlete can and cannot do.
This marks a major shift for young athletes and makes education around NIL more important than ever.
2. Increased Reporting & Compliance Requirements
With greater earning opportunities comes stricter oversight. Athletes must now:
o If this applies to you, the reporting of deals can be done at nilgo.com
o Expect potential third-party review of contracts
Report all deals to any school you’ve committed to, or at least ask about their disclosure policy and what you need to do to remain compliant
The NJSIAA does not require disclosure at this time – but check to make sure you are aware of any individual NIL policy your school may have
Ask your school athletic director if there is anything you need to know about disclosing your deal to your school. Remember, all schools can have their own policy within the state or athletic association’s policy.
Why NIL Education Matters - Even If an Athlete Never Plans to Pursue NIL
Every athlete is now part of the NIL world, whether they pursue deals or not. Understanding NIL is essential because:
Rules are changing fast, and violations can impact eligibility
Bad actors exist, and athletes who aren’t informed are more vulnerable
Parents need clarity so they can help guide their athlete safely
Proper understanding protects athletes, their reputations, and their future opportunities
Our NIL Education Partner
To ensure our members have access to accurate, trustworthy, expert-led information, we’ve partnered exclusively with Influential Athlete, the leader in NIL education for schools, associations, and athletic organizations nationwide.
All NIL education provided to our members comes directly from Influential Athlete to ensure consistent, high-quality guidance.
You can learn more about the founders and their expertise below or visit their website influentialathlete.com