Effective July 1st Louisiana student-athletes will be able to profit from the use of their name image and likeness without it impacting their status.
UL System President Jim Henderson said the change is long overdue and he’s thankful that the Legislature OK’d the new policy in the recent session. Opponents argue the change will break the spirit of amateurism in college sports, but Henderson disagreed.
“It does not take away from the amateurism,” said Henderson. “It allows these individuals to participate in the marketplace in a very controlled way.”
Under UL System N.I.L. policy student-athletes must complete a five-hour yearly training course on the procedure for obtaining benefits such as sponsorships. One of those requirements is that the student-athlete must consult with the school before using the school’s branding in any advertisements or endorsements.
LSU adopted its own set of similar N.I.L. policies that go into effect July 1st.
Henderson says had this new law been in place before, athletes like former Grambling star Shakyla Hill could have profited from becoming the first college basketball player to record two career quadruple-doubles
“That young woman who gave so much time and energy and the institution and the state benefited so much from her publicity, she should have been able to take advantage of the use of her name, image, and likely in constructive ways,” said Henderson.
Under the policy, compensation is not allowed to be provided in exchange for athletic performances or attendance at a specific college. Also, the school itself is not allowed to provide compensation outside of the usual scholarship.
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