Name, Image, & Likeness
NJCAA APPROVES CHANGES TO NAME, IMAGE, & LIKENESS (NIL) – July 1, 2021
The NJCAA supports equitable opportunities consistent with the educational objectives of each member institution and student-athlete. The NJCAA recognizes the changing landscape of collegiate athletics and the intersection of student-athletes' rights and athletic participation. The NJCAA has worked with state and federal government officials in an effort to create a consistent framework that allows for and supports the successful two-year college athletic experience and ensures the ability to transfer to the four-year school of a student-athlete's choosing.
Under the bylaw, the following acts shall not cause a student-athlete to lose his or her amateur status in the NJCAA:
- Participating in radio or television programs for the purpose of promoting an amateur athletic event.
- Receiving compensation for supervision of physical education, playground, or recreational activities.
- Receiving compensation for use of name, image, or likeness to promote any commercial product or enterprise, or public or media appearance so long as it does not conflict with the institutions existing partnerships, sponsorships, and agreements.
- A member institution allowing a student-athlete to receive compensation in compliance with their state law.
The following acts remain prohibited in the NJCAA:
- Institutional employees or boosters making direct payment to athletes; and
- Direct payments from the institution in exchange for athletic performance or as a recruiting inducement.
On July 1, 2021, colleges and universities in at least six states will prohibit state institutions from membership in any association that prohibits or restricts a student-athlete name, image, and likeness rights. The NJCAA and the Board of Regents recognize the importance of name, image, and likeness rights and placed a priority on taking immediate action so that no member college is prohibited from membership within the association.
The NJCAA will continue to monitor name, image, and likeness trends and legislation of the state and federal levels.
Additional information for Spartanburg Methodist College Student-Athletes:
- For the purpose of securing compensation for the use of his or her name, image, or likeness, student-athletes may obtain an athlete/agent marketing representative, who must be registered in accordance with South Carolina Law.
- Compensation refers to money, goods, or services, whether provided at the time or any subsequent date.
- The use of Spartanburg Methodist College’s facilities, uniforms, or protected trademark or product for NIL activity is not permitted.
- NIL activity may not take place during the intercollegiate athlete’s participation in academic, athletic, or team-mandated activities.
- Compensation for NIL activity may not come directly from the institution or its employees.
- The student-athlete must meet all academic requirements of the NJCAA, Region 10, and abide by institutional policies related to class absences.
- Spartanburg Methodist College student-athletes must disclose their NIL activity to the institution via email prior to entering into an agreement.
- An intercollegiate athlete may not earn compensation for the use of his/her name, image, or likeness for the endorsement of tobacco, alcohol, illegal substances or activities, banned athletic substances, gambling, including, but not limited to sports betting per the South Carolina State Law.
- Additionally, a Spartanburg Methodist College student-athlete may not earn compensation from the use of his/her name, image, or likeness that conflicts with existing institutional sponsorship agreements or other contracts, or institutional values as defined by the Spartanburg Methodist College Student Handbook.
- Recruits who enter into a name, image, or likeness contract must disclose the contract to the institution and its athletic department prior to enrollment or signing a financial aid agreement.
- Athletes are prohibited from receiving pay-for-play and impermissible inducements.
Spartanburg Methodist College Institutional Information:
- Spartanburg Methodist College Employees (including student employees) may not directly or indirectly create or facilitate NIL compensation opportunities.
- Spartanburg Methodist College may not use or allow donors to directly or indirectly create or facilitate compensation opportunities as a recruiting inducement or pay-for-play. However, donors may be involved in approved NIL activity as defined by the state.