In June 2021, the NCAA issued a policy, effective July 1, 2021, allowing NCAA student-athletes to monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights and maintain eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics. Since then, there has been an explosion of NIL deals across all collegiate sports, and a number of states have enacted specific legislation related to NIL. To help clients navigate the uncertainties and complexities of the NIL space, Manatt has not only assembled an interdisciplinary NIL in College Athletics practice, but also created a consolidated NIL Program Playbook for colleges and universities and an accompanying NIL Scorecard to help standardize best practices for program development, dealmaking and compliance.

NIL Program Playbook

The playbook aims to help universities build programs that are compliant, practical and supportive of their respective institutional missions. Institutions that build the foundation now for an effective long-term NIL program will best support student-athletes while protecting the school from potential liability and risk. We provide university officials and athletic directors with a blueprint to gain a competitive advantage in recruiting and branding.

Written by an integrated team of legal and consulting professionals who have deep experience in this emerging area—particularly within sports law and influencer marketing—the 30-plus-page playbook is broken into the following sections:

• Policies: Must-Haves and Alignment With State Laws, NCAA Rules, and School Missions and Budgets
• Compliance Operations (including student-athlete NIL deal review and due diligence as well as staff compliance)
• The Roles of Collectives, Boosters, Alumni and Local Businesses
• School Involvement, Sponsors, Co-Branding, Logos and Facilities
• Student-Athlete Education and Support

A preview of the playbook is available for download. For pricing and more information, please complete our interest form, available via the “Download” button.

NIL Scorecard

Manatt’s proprietary NIL Scorecard provides institutions with a standard of excellence in NIL program development. It aims to be the go-to guide across the NCAA for universities to evaluate and reevaluate their NIL programs. Universities will be scored based on the evaluation.

The scorecard is available to view, and institutions may engage the Manatt team to complete an evaluation, recommend necessary improvements and implement those recommendations as needed.

About Us

The one-of-a-kind playbook and scorecard are authored by an integrated team of legal and consulting professionals from Manatt who have deep experience in sports, entertainment and advertising law and are former collegiate athletes, entrepreneurs and former executives with professional sports teams and name-brand companies.