NIL glossary
What is pay for play?
Pay for play is money given to an athlete for joining a team, enrolling at a school or for athletic performance, as opposed to payment for real NIL activity, and it is barred under NCAA rules, state NIL laws and high school association rules.
On this page
In detail
Since July 1, 2025, schools that opt in to the House settlement may pay athletes directly through revenue sharing, under the cap. Outside that, money raised to induce athletes to attend or stay at a school does not meet NIL Go's valid-business-purpose test, and Executive Order 14322 (July 2025) called third-party pay-for-play payments improper.
Frequently asked questions
Is revenue sharing pay for play?
Revenue sharing is a direct school payment permitted under the House settlement and its cap; third-party payments made to get an athlete to enroll or stay remain barred.
Sources
- Rules and Policies — College Sports Commission
- Executive Order 14322, Saving College Sports — U.S. Government Publishing Office
- NCAA adopts interim name, image and likeness policy (June 30, 2021) — NCAA
This is general information, not legal advice. NIL rules differ by state, school, association and sport, and they change often. Check the official sources linked on this page and talk with your school's compliance office, your state association or a licensed attorney before you sign anything.