NCAA Board Of Governors Moves Toward Allowing Student-Athlete Compensation By 2021

The NCAA is making some changes for its upcoming 2021-2022 season.

At a recent board meeting, the Board of Governors supported rule changes surrounding student-athlete compensation, according to the NCAA.

The new guidelines will now see student-athletes no longer punished for accepting compensation for third-party endorsements directly and indirectly related to athletics specifically.

Permitted compensation opportunities include social media, joint business partnerships, and appearances with the guiding principles.

However, student-athletes remain exempt from the “use of conference and school logos, trademarks, or other involvement.”

“The board emphasized that at no point should a university or college pay student-athletes for name, image and likeness activities,” the website states.

“Throughout our efforts to enhance support for college athletes, the NCAA has relied upon considerable feedback from and the engagement of our members, including numerous student-athletes, from all three divisions,” Michael V. Drake, board chair and president of Ohio State said. “Allowing promotions and third-party endorsements is uncharted territory.”

Despite the support, the board’s suggestions are not final. Now, the recommendation will be moved to the NCAA’s three divisions for further consideration, with all three expected to adopt the new rules early next year. The plan would then be in effect for the start of the 2021-22 academic school year, according to reports.