Student-Athletes Dos/Don'ts | Prohibited Industries/Engaging Athletes | Education & Enforcement/Additional Resources | Email Compliance Office
July 1, 2021 began a new era for intercollegiate athletics with the extension of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights to all student-athletes. The Division I Board of Directors approved of student-athletes' use of their publicity rights in order to receive compensation from third parties for business activities such as endorsements, promotional appearances, and self-employment. Prohibitions on foundational NCAA tenets such as "pay-for-play" and impermissible recruiting inducements still apply.
At the current time, the NCAA continues to operate under their initial "Interim NIL Policy", which provides general guidelines to all NIL stakeholders. To learn more about the NCAA's Interim Policy or review additional educational materials, please visit www.ncaa.org/nil.
To date, 28 states have active NIL laws while another 15 states have proposed or repealed legislation under review. Numerous NIL proposals continue to be reviewed on a federal basis as well. While Massachusetts has introduced an NIL bill, the absence of state or federal law or comprehensive NCAA legislation makes the "College of the Holy Cross Name, Image, And Likeness Policy For Student-Athletes (PDF)" the governing force for all NIL activities related current Holy Cross student-athletes. For any questions related to the Holy Cross NIL Policy, please contact the Athletics Compliance Office at 508-978-3582 or
zleach@holycross.edu.
The College of the Holy Cross
has selected MOGL as its exclusive NIL solution. Through
MOGL Monetize™, Holy Cross will receive leading digital agency services, compliance technology and education for all of its student-athletes.
MOGL was built to provide equal access and equal opportunity for all NCAA student-athletes and institutions. This collaboration ensures that Holy Cross student-athletes are connected with thousands of NIL deals and college administration is provided with technology to monitor automatic disclosures and protect their student-athletes.
Register as a Student-Athlete | Register as a Sponsor | How to Connect with Student-Athletes (PDF)
Per the Holy Cross NIL Policy –
Student-Athletes MAY:
- Promote their athletic reputation and personal brand to maximize the use of their NIL rights.
- Earn compensation for the use of their NIL from such business opportunities as:
- Self-employment.
- Endorsement of products and services.
- Direct monetization on social media.
- Promotional appearances and autographs.
- Private lessons, camps, and clinics.
- Refer to their participation in NCAA athletics and their attendance at Holy Cross as part of paid NIL activities.
- Retain professional representation to help secure NIL opportunities.
Student-Athletes MAY NOT:
- Sign an NIL contract that does not require any action or consideration from the student-athlete.
- Sign an NIL contract that is contingent on initial or continued enrollment at Holy Cross or specific athletic performance as a Holy Cross student-athlete.
- Sign an NIL contract that requires action or consideration that is not in compliance with applicable law and NCAA, Patriot League, and Holy Cross policy.
- Take part in NIL activities during scheduled periods of class, practice, competition or other required scholastic or team activities.
- Use any College marks (i.e. shield logo, word mark) or facilities for NIL purposes.
- International student-athlete may not take part in NIL outside of their home country due to visa limitations.
Prohibited NIL Industries:
- Student-athletes may not endorse the following brands, products, and services:
- Tobacco products or alternative nicotine delivery products.
- Marijuana products.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Any seller or dispensary of a controlled substance or any substance prohibited by the NCAA.
- Casinos or sports wagering businesses.
- Any direct competitor to a major sponsor of Holy Cross Athletics.
Engaging Holy Cross Student-Athletes In NIL:
- Holy Cross employees and athletics boosters may not compensate Holy Cross student-athletes for NIL usage or facilitate NIL opportunities for Holy Cross student-athletes.
- Businesses seeking to propose an NIL opportunity for a Holy Cross student-athlete may reach out via social media, phone, email, in-person, online marketplace, or via their NIL agent (if applicable) to inquire about initiating a relationship. Holy Cross employees may not provide student-athlete contact information to third parties.
- Holy Cross student-athletes may proactively contact businesses about NIL opportunities and businesses are permitted to engage in these discussions. Student-athletes may identify themselves as Holy Cross athletes and list personal academic or athletic accomplishments, both to secure an NIL opportunity and in the course of a promotion or endorsement.
- Permissible compensation includes cash (and cash equivalent, e.g., gift card), Venmo and other digital cash transfer, free or discounted products or services, and other forms of legitimate compensation in exchange for their NIL usage.
Education And Enforcement:
Holy Cross has been actively engaged in the NIL process and the impact it has on student-athletes and the community. The College is committed to educating student-athletes and local businesses alike on the new opportunities provided by the NIL market, as well as developing relationships with third-party platforms to help ensure all stakeholders are positioned to profit from NIL.
Enforcement of the Holy Cross NIL Policy is the sole responsibility of the College. In order to promote an environment of NIL compliance, we ask that student-athletes promptly report NIL activities though one of several channels to do so, ask that businesses interested in NIL opportunities with Holy Cross student-athletes ask questions before acting, and ask that any third-party platforms provide compliance tools. Violations of the policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with applicable College policy and NCAA legislation.
Additional Resources:
For any further questions related to the Holy Cross NIL Policy, please contact the Athletics Compliance Office at 508-978-3582 or zleach@holycross.edu.
