Years before NIL was signed into law in 2021, I was working in college sports and the topic came up: “should college athletes get paid?” I remember my boss took the stance that student-athletes should not get paid… and I felt the complete opposite. My argument (a battle I decided not to have with him or my coworkers) was that athletes should get paid, as the ability to earn income can make a huge difference for college athletes and their families.
The effects of being a DI athlete and not being able to hold a job is something that anti-NIL folks may not understand. Were our scholarships paid in full? Yes. But what I most vividly remember were those times when certain teammates had to go without because they couldn’t afford things many well-off students took for granted. For example:
- not being able to travel home to see family during Thanksgiving or Christmas because they couldn’t afford a plane ticket. A scholarship doesn’t cover personal travel experiences
- ordering fast food or ramen in a cup because after the dining hall closed down, they couldn’t afford to order from a nice restaurant. Most scholarships cover a select meal plans, only
- not being able to purchase adequate school supplies. With the exception of textbooks, some of my teammates couldn’t afford personal notepads, writing tools, or lap tops to help with their school work
Growing up I played basketball, which wasn’t considered a ‘rich persons’ sport. Sports like basketball, soccer, track and field, etc. have little barriers to entry, so these sports are typically accessible to everyone. It’s much more affordable to buy a pair of running shoes than all the equipment needed for lacrosse or hockey, for example. My teammates came from all walks of life, and it wasn’t until I got older that I realized some of my teammates families’ weren’t as well off as I thought they were.
I’m glad the signing into law of NIL in 2021 changed that. I’ve read so much about NIL and recently I’ve had my own questions about the resources provided to student-athletes as they navigate this new landscape.
I also still go back to that equality question. Articles and bloggers are quick to tout athletes who sign six-figure sponsorships with big brands, but what about those athletes who:
- compete at mid-sized schools?
- those who complete at small DII and DIII programs?
- what about women athletes?
- what about athletes of color who play in sports/conferences where they’re underrepresented?
- what about athletes who represent the LGBTQ community?
- and don’t forget about those athletes playing on F-1 visas
While I don’t know what the future holds for NIL and for athletes who build brands, I am confident that NIL partnerships will serve as great opportunities for students to create and grow business, build their brands, all while helping them support themselves and their families.
NILBuckets.com won’t be a website that will feature high-level NIL deals that top athletes secure. Instead, this platform will provide resources for athletes and their families to help them navigate this new terrain, helping them achieve a source of income while knowing how to manage their funds wisely. Everything that they should know about NIL rules, tax information, budgeting, building brands and more can be found here. To get a weekly summary of topics and resources, visit my website or a free weekly newsletter.
So welcome to NILBuckets. I look forward to seeing what all of us prospective, current, and former midsize school level athletes can build together.
Yours truly,
Jay
Former DI Athlete
Founder, NILBuckets