Name, Image, and Likeness Policy

The NAIA membership passed the new legislation at the NAIA National Business Meeting in October 2020. The bylaw allows athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) without violating the amateurism rules of the NAIA.

St. Ambrose does not initiate NIL agreements. The student-athlete is responsible for seeking or negotiating any NIL opportunities.

An NIL agreement transpires when an individual or company promises a student-athlete compensation for use of his or her name, image, or likeness and references participation in a sport at St. Ambrose. When such an agreement occurs, the student-athlete must report the compensation to the Athletic Director.

A student-athlete may use the form on this page: https://www.naia.org/membership/nil-submit-details to submit an NIL agreement. The form populates to the NAIA, who will in turn contact the Athletic Director at St. Ambrose. Failure to report NIL agreements will result in a review by the National Coordinating Committee.

The NAIA permits student-athletes to receive reasonable compensation for officiating or coaching in amateur, recreational or interscholastic programs. The legislation does not define such activities as an NIL agreement. A student-athlete may solicit and be paid reasonable compensation on a lesson basis without considering it an NIL agreement.

Keep in mind that an NIL agreement must include mutual benefits for two parties, meaning a student athlete is providing some promotional service to an individual or business in exchange for compensation. A business may not simply provide a student-athlete with money in the absence of an action from the student-athlete to promote said business.

If a student-athlete has questions about NIL rules, contact the Athletic Director.

More Information:
NAIA Name, Image and Likeness Tips & Best Practices