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NAIA considers removing limits on student-athlete compensation

Posted 3/19/20

The NAIA is considering legislation that would remove restrictions on student-athletes earning money...

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NAIA considers removing limits on student-athlete compensation

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The NAIA is considering legislation that would remove restrictions on student-athletes earning money from their name and likeness, according to a report by Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports.

Previous wording allowed student athletes to receive “reasonable compensation for use of name, image and likeness,” but the new proposal would remove the word “reasonable” from the guidelines.

“I think it’s the idea that the vast majority, almost all, of our student-athletes are not getting full scholarships,” NAIA commissioner Jim Carr said.

“If they can go out, make a little extra money to pay of the rising cost of education, then it’s something we should allow them to do. For us, the risk of creating a recruiting advantage because of booster or influences like that are much smaller than it is at the highest levels of the NCAA.”

Central Methodist men’s basketball coach Jeff Sherman is in favor of the change, which he described as a minor issue within the NAIA compared to a possible change in the NCAA.

“I applaud the NAIA for being the leader on this piece of legislation,” Sherman said.

“There will be those separation issues for a few individuals that will most certainly gain from this decision and this is good. I just hate seeing someone hurt by not being allowed to take advantage of an opportunity. So, for the most part, I do not see removing the word ‘reasonable’ from the code as being a major issue for most.” 

According to the CBS Sports report, the NAIA made past exceptions to its rules for CMU defensive back Toni Harris, who appeared in commercials during each of the past two Super Bowls. Harris has received compensation and is also represented by an agent.

Few athletes are currently in a situation like Harris, with the chance to appear in advertisements reaching millions of people. But the change could still have a positive impact for some, according to Sherman.

“While most are not in a position to ‘cash’ in with this opportunity now,” he said, “it doesn’t mean that down the road this could make a huge different for a number of student athletes and helping with their ability to obtain a college education”

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