NIL Update: What Does an Athletic Department Need to Know
NIL, Technology and Managing Athletic Department Needs
The opportunity for Student-Athletes to capitalize on their Name, Image and Likeness kicked off over one month ago; state and federal laws continue to evolve and the NCAA guidelines are a work in progress as the collegiate sports industry is seeing constant change. In this turbulent environment Spry has had the unique opportunity to speak with administrators from Athletic Departments of all sizes about their areas of success and concern. The needs are similar across most Athletic Departments and while there is a wide range in the number of staff and budgets, most Institutions are feeling overwhelmed at implementing new NIL processes. Ultimately this ties into the conversation of how technology can streamline the process for administrators and empower student-athletes to be their own best advocate.
Feedback from Athletic Departments
- Most deals are being offered through social media DMs
- Student-Athletes want a quick and easy disclosure process
- Institutions want a customizable app
- There is a necessity for easy upload of documents
- Real time communication via NIL technology partner to diffuse confusion
No matter how well prepared an institution felt before July 1, this has been a learning experience for everyone. With the ultimate goal of keeping student-athletes on the playing field while taking advantage of these opportunities, colleges are forced to be creative and think ahead of the curve. Leading to the importance of using a strong technology program to define the strategic process for incorporating NIL into each Athletic Department.
Based on the feedback mentioned above, it is easy to see that internal and external communication continue to be the most important aspects of NIL. Whether it is between Athletic Departments and student-athletes or student-athletes and potential partners; everyone wants access to the athletic and compliance administrators and a quick response time. Smart technology can streamline the communication process by addressing some of the other concerns listed above. By incorporating simple processes to upload documents and submit disclosures, student-athletes are able to move through the approval process while easily tracking each step.
Targeted improvements allow technology to be adjusted and enhanced to address these concerns. By thoughtfully building parameters based on legal requirements Spry has taken the first step in streamlining the process. Additionally, Spry is working with institutions to customize their NIL software, for example Spry can create educational material needed to meet requirements mandated by NIL legislation. Technology also forces transparency as there are records of each request and step in the NIL process.
Ultimately every Institution is faced with implementing their own NIL strategy but planning ahead and incorporating thoughtful technology will make the process much easier.
If you would like to see Spry’s latest product releases, or are in need of NIL assistance, reach out to Spry to discuss a limited trial today.
