Student-Athletes
Q. Can I endorse or sponsor a product that includes banned substances?
A. No. Please remember that you are 100% responsible for what products you consume and any student-athlete that tests positive for banned substances will lose eligibility.
Q. Can I endorse or sponsor an athletic equipment / apparel company or outfitter?
A. Yes. Please remember that institutional marks and logos may not be used --unless approval is given -- in your NIL activities involving the athletic equipment / apparel company or outfitter. Further, NIL activities may not occur during UMD athletically related activities.
Q. Can I utilize a crowdfunding campaign to help cover the costs of tuition or other costs associated with enrolling at UMD?
A. No. You may only participate in crowdfunding activities that support charitable or non-profit activities and 100% of the proceeds are directed to the charitable or nonprofit cause you are supporting.
Q. May a UMD booster financially support my NIL activity?
A. Yes. Booster’s may financially support your NIL activities, provided the financial support is commensurate with the fair market value for the NIL activities that you are performing, the funds are not an impermissible inducement and it does not constitute pay-for-play.
Q. What is the penalty if I do not disclose my NIL activity within 14 days of the NIL activity occurring?
A. You may jeopardize your NCAA eligibility for practice and/or competition. Also, you may be subject to the applicable penalties pursuant to state law.
Q. Does compensation earned through NIL activities impact my athletics scholarship?
A. No. Your athletics scholarship will not be impacted if you earn income through permissible NIL activities. However, earned income may jeopardize your eligibility for need-based financial aid opportunities (e.g., Pell).
Q. Can international student-athletes benefit from name, image and likeness activities?
A. Yes. International student-athletes may face additional NIL limitations due to visa requirements where employment is prohibited. It is recommended that international student-athletes seek guidance from the University of Maryland International Students & Scholar Services office, an immigration lawyer, or the Department of Homeland Security prior to engaging in NIL activities in order to prevent potential immigration issues.
Donors & Supporters
Q. Will Maryland provide educational name, image, or likeness resources to student-athletes?
A. Yes. The Athletics Department continues to provide student-athletes with ongoing education and resources to maximize the use of their name, image, or likeness.
Q. May a donor or fan enter into an agreement with a Maryland student-athlete for the use of the student-athlete’s name, image, or likeness in exchange for money, goods, or services?
A. Yes. Compensation may not be provided to a student-athlete in exchange for athletics performance or achievement, and must be commensurate with fair market value.
Q. May student-athletes receive name, image, or likeness-compensation based on athletic performance?
A. No. For example, student-athletes may not be compensated for winning games, scoring goals or points during an athletics contest, earning an athletic achievement (i.e., All-American status, team captain, offensive MVP), or based on their roster status on a Maryland sports team.
Q. May a booster or fan compensate a student-athlete through name, image, or likeness when the student-athlete is engaged in official Maryland team activities?
A. No. Student-athletes may not perform name, image, or likeness activities during athletically related activities, academic activities, or while representing Maryland in any capacity. For example, a student-athlete may not perform name, image, or likeness activities (i.e., autograph signing session) during away-from-home competition.
Q. May a student-athlete or prospective student-athlete enter into an agreement with a professional service provider for purposes related to name, image, or likeness activities?
A. Yes. Student-athletes and prospective student-athletes may enter into agreements with third-party services (tax advisor, marketing consultant, NIL agent, brand management) for name, image, or likeness purposes.
Q. Are there limitations on the compensation or opportunities that can be provided to a student-athlete for use of their name, image, or likeness?
A. Yes. Compensation for name, image, or likeness use shall be commensurate with fair market value. Further, student-athletes are prohibited from engaging in name, image, or likeness activities that conflict with institutional values. Categories that conflict with institutional values may include, but are not limited to the following:
- A tobacco company or brand
- Any seller or distributor of a NCAA banned substance
- Any adult entertainment business
Q. Can Maryland marks, logos or other intellectual property be used in a proposed name, image, or likeness-contract with a student-athlete?
A. No. Use of University or athletic department registered trademarks, products protected by copyright, or official logos or marks, is prohibited without the express written permission from the University and/or the Office of Trademarks and Licensing. For information regarding trademarks within the University please refer to:
https://osc.umd.edu/licensing-trademarks/
Q. May a donor, fan, or Maryland employee provide name, image, or likeness-compensation to a prospective student-athlete?
A. Yes. Prospective student-athletes may engage in the same types of name, image, or likeness opportunities available to current student-athletes under the interim name, image, or likeness policy without impacting their NCAA eligibility. Name, image, or likeness opportunities may not be used as a recruiting inducement or as a substitute for pay-for-play.
Q. May a name, image, or likeness contract stipulate that a student-athlete must compete for, or attend, a specific institution?
A. No.
