Point Athletics NIL Page
Point Athletics will provide a diverse, Christ-honoring culture of excellence to develop servant leaders in the classroom, competition, and community.
With the NAIA providing guidance to allow student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness (NIL), Point University’s athletic department is committed to providing educational opportunities in this area to its student-athletes to empower and prepare them to maximize their opportunity with respect to NIL, while also protecting their NAIA eligibility.
Student-athletes who are interested in pursuing NIL opportunities should begin by contacting Grace's athletic department. Point's policy information can be found by reading the sections below. Student-athletes should also review the materials posted by the NAIA to stay current with the most recent legislative changes regarding NIL.
In order to avoid jeopardizing athletic eligibility, student-athletes are strongly encouraged to complete the NAIA's NIL Disclosure Form before the NIL activity. Further questions can be directed to Brody Wortham (brody.wortham@point.edu) A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) can be found at the bottom of this page.
Point University’s NIL Policy
NAIA x Opendorse Partnership
In January 2022, the NAIA and Opendorse announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to prepare NAIA student-athletes for success in the NIL era of college sports. As the first-ever association-wide deal in college athletics, the three-year partnership will provide all NAIA athletes with free access to the market’s leading NIL solutions. Additionally, Opendorse will launch an NAIA-specific marketplace, empowering student-athletes to connect with supporters for compliant NIL deals.
As the exclusive NIL partner of the NAIA, Opendorse will continue its mission to help every athlete. The partnership further establishes the NAIA as an institutional NIL leader, becoming the first college athletics association to provide an all-in-one NIL solution for student-athletes to maximize and safely manage their NIL opportunities and value. The NAIA and its student-athletes will use Opendorse’s NIL marketing, education, and compliance platform, thereby streamlining deals, compliance disclosures, and secure payment.
Through the agreement, a curated NIL marketplace for all NAIA student-athletes will be created and supported by Opendorse, providing brands and fans with a single platform to browse and book deals with NAIA athletes. The marketplace enables student-athletes to automatically disclose activities, ensuring compliance with their institutional policies.
As part of the partnership, Opendorse will provide each NAIA participant with a full NIL assessment detailing their NIL value, giving student-athletes a clear outlook of what they stand to gain from completing deals with brands and fans in their community.
Student-athletes can sign up for Opendorse for FREE here to get started.
NIL & You – FAQ’s
WHAT IS NIL?
NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness. The NAIA membership passed legislation in October 2022 that allows NAIA athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness without violating the amateurism rules of the NAIA. Athletes are permitted to use their NIL to earn income in ways that are permitted within the NAIA, state, and institutional legislation.
WHAT IS THE STUDENT-ATHLETE'S RESPONSIBILITY?
Any student-athlete who is being compensated for the NIL, which also refers to their school or status as a student-athlete, has the responsibility to report that compensation to their institution in a timely manner (within 10 days, preferably before completing the NIL activity).
HOW DOES A STUDENT-ATHLETE REPORT THEIR NIL AGREEMENT?
The primary option is to submit details of the NIL agreement using the NAIA's NIL Disclosure Form. Failure to report an NIL agreement can have consequences on a student-athlete's eligibility.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT-ATHLETE DOES NOT REPORT AN NIL AGREEMENT?
Failure to report any NIL activity shall result in an institutional self-report, to be reviewed by the NAIA’s National Coordinating Committee. The committee is empowered to review such violations and apply penalties as necessary, including but not limited to a warning or reprimand to the student-athlete, withholding the student from future competitions, and/or determining the student has lost his or her amateur status.
CAN POINT LIMIT WHAT THE STUDENT-ATHLETE PROMOTES?
Yes. Point Univeristy has the ability to enforce restrictions on agreements that are deemed to be a conflict of interest with the institution's own mission or current sponsorship agreements. Additionally, many states have or are in the process of, passing laws that might dictate what is eligible for NIL activities.
A STUDENT-ATHLETE WISHES TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN PERSONAL TRAINING / COACHING. IS THIS PERMISSIBLE?
Yes. Receiving reasonable compensation for officiating or coaching in amateur, recreational, or interscholastic programs is already permitted by NAIA bylaws. A student-athlete may solicit and be paid reasonable compensation for lessons as well.
ARE STUDENT-ATHLETES PERMITTED TO UTILIZE POINT UNIVERSITY EQUIPMENT OR FACILITIES FOR NIL ACTIVITIES?
Student-athletes may, subject to availability and subject to the terms of a facility use agreement, use Point Athletics’ facilities to conduct camps, clinics, or lessons if the student-athlete pays the standard facility rental rate. Student-athletes may not use Point facilities in such a manner that creates the impression – either express or implied - that Point expressly or indirectly endorses a third party or product, unless prior written approval is obtained from Point University.
ANYTHING ELSE TO KNOW?
There must be a quid pro quo with the NIL agreement. A business cannot provide student-athlete cash or the equivalent without the promotional aspect.