California is now the first state that will allow college athletes to make money from endorsement deals.
On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a first-in-the-nation bill that finally will enable athletes the freedom to partner with companies and brands for endorsement deals, and blocks the governing body of college sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, from banning those compensated athletes. According to NBC News, the NCAA rules strictly prohibit athletes from profiting in any way from their sports, and the law would still bar schools from directly paying athletes.
“Colleges reap billions from student-athletes but block them from earning a single dollar. That’s a bankrupt model,” Newsom tweeted after signing the bill. On Monday, the NCAA released a statement, saying its current regulations on amateurism should be the next thing to change. However, California law will not help.
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“As a membership organization, the NCAA agrees changes are needed to continue to support student-athletes, but improvement needs to happen on a national level through the NCAA’s rule-making process,” the governing body said.
“Unfortunately this new law already is creating confusion for current and future student-athletes, coaches, administrators and campuses and not just in California.”
