NCAA To Consider College Athletes Name, Image And Likeness Rights Payments

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) president and Board of Governors have appointed a working group to examine issues highlighted in recently proposed federal and state legislation related to student-athlete name, image and likeness.

The NCAA Board of Governors Federal and State Legislation Working Group will bring together 19 member representatives from all three NCAA divisions, including Division I male and female student-athletes and a Division III student-athlete.

Big East commissioner and working group co-chair, Val Ackerman, said this group will work to provide a thorough assessment and potentially propose rule changes in the interest of student education.

“This group will bring together diverse opinions from the membership, from presidents and commissioners to student-athletes, that will examine the NCAA’s position on name, image and likeness benefits and potentially propose rule modifications tethered to education.

“We believe the time is right for these discussions and look forward to a thorough assessment of the many complexities involved in this area,” Mr Ackerman said.

It has been revealed the group will not be considering any concepts that could be construed as payment for participation in college sports as the NCAA’s mission to provide opportunity for students to compete against other students prohibits and contemplation of pay-for-play.

Ohio State senior vice president and athletics director and working group co-chair, Gene Smith, said the group will focus on solutions that tie any changes to education, maintain the clear separation between professional and college sports, and further align student-athletes with the general student body.

“While the formation of this group is an important step to confirming what we believe as an association, the group’s work will not result in paying students as employees.

“That structure is contrary to the NCAA’s educational mission and will not be a part of this discussion,” Smith said.

At this stage, it has been stated the group will provide an update to the Board of Governors in August but will provide a final report in October, following discussions and the writing of a set of overarching principles to guide each division as it devises consistent legislation.