COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 15, 2021) - The U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH) and the Athletic Healthcare Administrator Association (AHAA) hosted a Name, Image and Likeness webinar Tuesday, bringing together experts from Congress, Division I athletics and sports law in a conversation moderated by Dr. James R. Borchers, USCAH president and co-founder.
U.S. Representative Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), Washington State Athletic Director Pat Chun and National Sports Law Institute Director Matt Mitten spoke for nearly an hour about various factors regarding NIL legislation on the state and federal level. Three areas of focus were around athlete mental health, inequity of resources across schools, conferences and divisions, and the importance of appropriate education for student-athletes.
All three were adamant about the importance of having national guidance to circumvent the uneven playing field for student-athletes when a patchwork of state laws goes into effect July 1. From there, the panelists also discussed how the initial legislation must be appropriately applied across different areas of the student-athlete experience, ensuring health, safety, and welfare is prioritized.
NIL legislation allows student-athletes to profit off their names and images through mediums such as social media posts, appearances, sponsorships, autograph sales, endorsement deals and private training classes or camps. Several states have passed legislation regarding student-athlete NIL rights with at least six slated to go into effect beginning July 1. Others have passed bills with delayed enactment.
Access to webinars, as well as discussion forums, educational resources, and expert analysis, is included with membership in the Athletic Healthcare Administrator Association. The AHAA serves as a virtual community for collaboration, professional development, expert resources, and one-of-a-kind connections for healthcare administrators and sports medicine professionals in all capacities.
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