NIL FOR ATHLETES
NIL is a hot topic in the world of college athletics. Since this summer, the AIA has clarified new rules on the use of NIL in high schools. What is NIL? Why would anybody do it? And is there any harm in it?
Name Image Likeliness
NIL stands for name, image, and likeliness. It allows athletes to promote their selves on social media and make partnerships with businesses that want to use someone to promote their brand. Athletes can also profit from these deals. The rules however can differentiate per state.
Arizona
In Arizona, the AIA permits high school students to benefit promoting their name, image, and likeliness as long as it does not connect to the athlete’s high school. Arizona’s general NIL laws state that a student may not be denied a scholarship based on NIL deals, nor may a scholarship been cut because of a NIL deal. Students also may use an agent as long as it complies with other rules within Arizona's state laws. However, a NIL deal may not conflict with the personal rights of someone and it may not conflict with a athlete’s team contract.
This infographic displays a timeline of events that eventually led to a NIL deal for Kyi Kyi Miles. Nov. 3, 2024
The Importance Of NIL
Rachael Bacchus is a consultant for ASU athletics. She is a resource for students to use when they have questions regarding NIL. Students can also go to Bacchus for advice when they are approached by companies.
Bacchus sees a lot of benefits in NIL. She said that NIL is something that an athlete can build their future on if they invest in it properly and maximize their potential.
It can provide a jumpstart
Rachael Bacchus. Photo from: Rachael Bacchus X
“I think NIL is important because, not just from a money-making standpoint, but if used correctly NIL provides opportunities for athletes that otherwise don’t have time for work, internships, access to business networking that other college students have across the landscape," Bacchus said.
Coach's take
Amira Van Buren
Amira van Buren, assistant coach for the ASU water polo team is positive about her athletes participating in NIL.
“I think that athletes deserve to earn compensation based of their name image and likeliness and the more our girls and other athletes participate in it the better."
According to van Buren, it can especially be beneficial if people on smaller teams participate in NIL.
“Sometimes it’s not about [making money], it’s about getting your name out there, getting the sport out there,” van Buren said. “The more people do it, and our girls do it, the more people will benefit from it.”
Player's take | Zoe Frangieh
In this video, ASU water polo player Zoe Frangieh talks about her NIL deals. She explains that it is a great way for people to expand their network. In the past, Frangieh had NIL deals with companies such as Jolyn and Vuori. The deal with Jolyn is a yearlong deal, whereas the deal with Vuori was a one-time offer. Frangieh also talks about the potential bad side of NIL and how it can help create more attention for the smaller sports especially.
Education
It is important for student-athletes to be informed about the rules of participating in NIL. A violation may lead to ineligibility to play. Jim Dean, Associate Executive Director of the AIA said that often times there is a misunderstanding about what NIL exactly is.
“I think that most high school athletes have a perception of what NIL is. That is substantially different from what NIL is.”
“It allows students in high school to become entrepreneurs of their own name image and likeness. In our society that’s a positive piece," Dean said.
Since the AIA clarified its rules, they have also been working on educating others on the rules. They have provided the athletic directors of high schools with information and the athletic directors pass that information on to their students, Dean said.
“To help out with that we actually created a video, it’s on our website. It was created as an educational opportunity as it relates to NIL and our bylaws.”
Potential Dangers
“There’re companies out there that try to market specifically to students and a lot of times they’re under 18 years old,” Dean said.
Dean said that the AIA had parents who told them that some companies reach out to the athlete directly instead of going to the parents. He said that it's a “concerning” fact that this is happening.
However, it should not discourage people from participating in NIL, said Dean.
“We are excited for our student athletes to be able to take advantage of their name, image and likeliness.”
NIL can bring pressure to an athlete. Bacchus said NIL can be distracting. Other than that, companies might not always want what is best for the athlete.
“The pressure and the need to keep up and earn money and all that can be very distracting for a young athlete.”
Behind The Athlete | Alison Kokorowski
Alison Kokorowski is a water polo player for ASU women’s water polo. Kokorowski is a sophomore and one of the captains of the water polo team. She had several NIL deals in the past and has a current partnership with Slide Jewelry.
Kokorowski's Participation
Kokorowski said that she is participating in NIL because it allows her to learn on multiple fronts. She learns how to stay on deadline for posts, communicating with brands and reaching out and managing when new packages come in.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to start to learn about finding your own personal brand and learning how to market yourself,” said Kokorowski.
"Kokorowski said it is a useful “tool” that she can always expand on in the future if it is necessary. Kokorowski said that nowadays, everything is done online.
To her, it is important to get her brand out on social media and represent herself to others, especially because most people are on the social networks and that is where people will look for information.
“I already had an Instagram anyway. The fact that I could make money or get something out of posting on Instagram is great,” said Kokorowski, “I would use it for fun anyway, but if I could use it for business, that’s even better."
Social Media Education
Kokorowski acknowledges the importance of being well educated.
She said that it is important to consider your personal values and consider if they align with the brand you are about to partner with.
Bobbie Kokorowski, Alison’s mom, said that her main concerns of her daughter using social media were cyberbullying and having a negative impact on the self-esteem.
"The middle school years can be particularly tricky to navigate with children that age already feeling like they have a spotlight on them,” Bobbie Kokorowski said. “It seemed to me that social media would magnify that issue.”
That is why Alison Kokorowski’s parents found it important to educate her well. Bobbie Kokorowski said that they talk about everything in the family and try to approach topics as objectively as possible.
“We attended a presentation, given by some older girls, about ‘safe’ social media use. That was particularly eye-opening for Alison,” Bobbie Kokorowski said.
Alison Kokorowski said that she is privileged in a way that she does not have to rely on NIL deals to make a living. For her, it would make it easier to decline a company if it doesn’t align with her values. However, she understands why that in certain situations, people would say yes to a deal that might not align with their personal values. She said you can always tell it when people are promoting a product that they do not initially support a hundred percent.
“Keeping in mind that social media in general is already pretty fake and pretty affected, I understand it,” Alison Kokorowski said.
Personally, Alison Kokorowski said she also has the privilege on being educated well by her parents and having resources at ASU. Not only being educated on how NIL works, but also what the tactics are behind market strategies help Kokorowski on the daily.
“Because if I wasn’t educated, I’d probably see something like, I want it.”
Slideshow of Kokorowski Making a Social Media Post
Kokorowski trying on outfits that blend well with her jewellery. Nov, 29, 20204.
Attention
The type of NIL that Kokorowski participates in is not significant for her team, Kokorowski said.
“I don’t think that the things that I do are necessarily big enough to have any sort of impact on the team.”
However, the water polo team had some deals that impacted all individuals when
one of the team members got a deal with Vuori. The team received sweatpants and a long sleeve. In return, they had to make a picture with the Vuori clothing on.
Kokorowski said it could be beneficial if more water polo athletes participated in NIL.
“As a smaller sport, I think it would definitely bring a lot more attention to us.”
Behind The Athlete | CADE BRIGGS
Cade Briggs is a football player for ASU. This is his second year at ASU. In the following podcast episode, Briggs talks about his experiences with NIL in the past and currently, as well as sharing some first-hand examples.
NIL and the Football Team
Although Briggs might not participate in the regular way of NIL, it has done a lot for the football team for ASU. Seven players signed a deal with Ford and got a mustang. Trenton Bourquet is another example of a player with a high profit of NIL. He has over 5,000 followers on Instagram and makes his name public by putting himself out on social media regularly. He recently partnered with Whirlwind Golf, along with Coden Bourguet and Cam Skattebo.
Podcast With Cade Briggs on NIL
Recap
Briggs talked about the type of NIL he participates in, which is different from the regular or common-known NIL. He explains why he does not want to do regular NIL. He also gives examples of his teamates participating in NIL and what can go wrong if someone does not overlook the contract. Furthermore, he gives a suggestion to prevent players from going to a college “just for the money.”
"I am just not really a big social media person."
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