Holon Law Partners’ Post

News Flash: Parents of Aspiring College Athletes 🏆 Student athletes can now get paid. A recent groundbreaking NCAA ruling has changed the game for student athletes. Check out the details to learn more about how this could impact your child's future: https://lnkd.in/emyUrZff #collegebound #parentsofathletes #collegeboundathletes #momsofathletes

Great news for high school athletes in the State of Florida! The FHSAA has finally approved high school athletes to earn compensation for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Although this is great news, I want to discuss the potential caveats that come with this new opportunity. First, and I cannot stress this enough, there is no rush for these athletes to enter into a deal - just because you can does not mean you should. A deal that might look good today may not look so good in 2-3 years, so it's important to take your time and carefully consider your options. Second, be careful who you select as a representative - there are a lot of "predatory" agents who are and will take advantage of these kids. Find a representative who will work in the athlete's best interest, not the agent's best interest. Third, review every agreement that you sign with an experienced agent or lawyer - a lot of brands/collectives may have some unfavorable contractual language in these agreements. Hope for the best, and plan for the worst - think about what happens if one of the parties breaches the agreement. Do you have to repay back any money that you have earned? Let the Florida High School NIL games begin!

Post 1: Groundbreaking NCAA Settlement to Pay College Athletes The NCAA and Power 5 conferences have reached a historic settlement that could allow schools to pay college athletes directly. The settlement of the House v. NCAA class-action lawsuit includes a $2.75 billion distribution to athletes who competed before July 2021 and a future revenue-sharing model where schools can distribute up to $20 million annually to their athletes. However, several uncertainties remain, including the exact amount each athlete will receive, how schools will decide which athletes get paid, and whether the settlement will be approved by a federal judge. This development marks a significant shift in college sports, potentially ending the long-standing tradition of amateurism and raising questions about competitive balance and the future of college athletics funding.

The NCAA Division 1 Council l has officially voted to eliminate the historic National Letter of Intent (NLI) program, a staple of college sports recruiting since 1964. NLI has been the primary way student-athletes commit to a collegiate program for decades, but will now soon be replaced exclusively by financial aid and scholarship agreements. This decision is part of a broader effort to modernize the NCAA’s approach, driven by the House v. NCAA settlement, which allows schools to compensate athletes significantly more than before. Looking ahead, the NCAA D-I Committee will likely evaluate the recruiting calendar, particularly with the early signing day for college football scheduled for December 4. A change in the recruiting landscape this substantial will definitely require a period of adjustment for athletes, families, and coaches around the country. However, this modernization of the traditional NLI approach shows a strong commitment to supporting and advancing the new era of name, image, and likeness. #LinkedInSports

The landscape of college athletics has changed considerably over the past few years, with student-athletes finally able to receive compensation for the use of their Name, Image, and Likeness (“NIL”) rights without forfeiting their amateur status. Before this change, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) enforced strict rules prohibiting college athletes from receiving any sort of remuneration, imposing sanctions on the athletes and universities alike when its rules were broken. Now, student-athletes can receive millions in compensation, even before turning professional, through NIL deals and potentially a sort of revenue sharing payment from the schools themselves. But what does that mean for the college athletes who earned millions for their universities and the NCAA, not themselves, prior to the rule change? For more information, see our blog post.

So much has changed in college athletics since I was a student-athlete. It's been hard to keep up with what's going on with NIL deals and how those will factor into the future of college athletics. Luckily, Littler's Ben Pope, Ben McMichael and James Fielding provide insight into federal proposals to regulate name, image and likeness (#NIL) deals for college athletes in this article. #employmentlaw

A Historic Shift in College Sports! 🏅 The NCAA and Power Five conferences have reached a groundbreaking agreement that fundamentally changes the landscape of college athletics. For the first time in over a century, schools will be able to pay their athletes directly, signaling a monumental shift in how college sports operate. This agreement is part of a multibillion-dollar settlement to resolve three federal antitrust cases, creating a $2.8 billion damages pool for current and former athletes, funded over the next 10 years. In addition to these payments, schools can now share up to $20 million per year with their athletes—providing them with new financial opportunities previously unimaginable. What's even more exciting? Athletes can continue to earn money from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) activities, ensuring that student-athletes have multiple revenue streams at their disposal. This is a massive step forward in recognizing the value that athletes bring to the collegiate sports ecosystem. This marks a new era in college sports, where athletes are no longer just seen as representatives of their schools but as individuals whose contributions are financially recognized. However, as we step into this new age, there are still plenty of questions to consider—how will this impact the dynamics between smaller schools and powerhouse programs? What challenges could arise from managing athlete compensation? This is undoubtedly a major win for athletes and a sign of broader reform on the horizon for college sports. What are your thoughts on this historic development? How do you think this will reshape the future of college athletics? I’d love to hear your insights! #NCAA #AthleteEconomy #CollegeAthletics #NIL #StudentAthletes #SportsBusiness #PowerFive #AthleteCompensation #CollegeSportsReform

Today is a landmark day for you, college athletes, as you take a huge leap toward fair compensation, rights, and protections. The recent court rulings and proposed legislation represent significant progress in recognizing your value and ensuring you receive the benefits you deserve for your hard work and dedication to your sport and school. These developments are a positive start, but questions remain on how schools will decide to share revenue with athletes. Will there be a fair and equitable distribution of funds? How will factors like sport popularity and individual performance impact compensation? Should the NCAA, conferences and schools be allowed to limit the amount of money you earn from the NIL/marketing deals you do separate from them? It’s crucial that you, the athletes, have a seat at the table in these negotiations. In the coming days, Athletes.org will provide vital information on the next steps you can take to ensure your voice is heard. Share our sign-up page with your teammates so you can come together and have a say in shaping the future of college sports. This is a critical moment, and you don’t want to miss your chance to be part of the conversation and decision-making process. Seize this opportunity to be the catalyst for positive change and a champion for the rights of college athletes everywhere.

It’s been announced that the State Board of Ed has killed #NIL for public high school athletes in NC. In what looked like a reluctance to pass rules at all, the SBE finally passed a complete prohibition against NIL in NC public schools. Under Senate Bill 452, the SBE took for itself the authority to promulgate a host of high school athletics participation rules, including for NIL. Until now, the SBE had not actually made those rules. The NCISAA (which includes roughly 100 of the State’s private schools) expressly permits NIL activities. Nearly 40 states allow NIL for high school athletes. NC, which has grown over the past 15 years into a hotbed of college talent, just joined the vast minority of states prohibiting it, and self-inflicted a mess between public and private schools that was avoidable. Whether this creates a talent bottleneck to private schools (who even have the capacity for new players), or mass exodus to other states, remains to be seen. Regardless, the impact here will be detrimental to some population. Finally, “amateurism” is an economic concept, and its parameters are set by whoever defines it. But it does not carry with it, nor is it meant to be a proxy for, morality. My article on this development and its impact to come. #NIL #sportslaw #northcarolina #NC #highschool #litigation

HUGE changes for #CollegeSoccer ahead. This is my ‘take’ but I may be wrong. - Lots of NCAA ‘lesser’ schools will drop Men’s Soccer (over the next few years - not immediate) - Which means the top end ones will get stronger talent pools - Other divisions (NAIA, NJCAA etc) will become stronger because of better talent available to them - But because of less teams it’ll be tougher to get onto a roster as a whole - Which will increase the overall levels in College Soccer - This above will create a rise in non traditional set ups, where the NPSL and UPSL may get involved and tie in with education institutes. Which they are starting to already but a more formal setup. - Club soccer in College should also start to get a better standard. I’m split whether to think it’s a good thing or bad thing for the industry and/or 🇺🇸 soccer development as a whole. See the full article about the news here https://lnkd.in/e7kSYx8x