NIL Education

3 WORKSHOPS. 1 GOAL.

UNDERSTAND NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS AND HOW TO SUCCEED
Southern California PGA and Influential Athlete have partnered to bring members a collection of workshops designed specifically for golfers to navigate and succeed in the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

Getting Started with NIL as a Golfer
For all junior golfers & parents
A clear, beginner-friendly introduction to NIL designed specifically for Southern California PGA junior golfers operating under the NIL policies of California (and CIF). This course explains what NIL is, what’s allowed and prohibited for high school athletes, how to protect eligibility, and how golfers can prepare now for opportunities in college. The perfect foundation for understanding NIL safely, confidently, and in a golf-focused way.

Build Your Personal Brand
For golfers ready to take the next step & learn how to stand out
Your personal brand is your competitive advantage both on the course and online. This course teaches golfers how to build a strong, authentic brand that reflects their personality, values, and performance. Athletes learn how to present themselves with confidence, create meaningful content, communicate effectively, and grow influence the right way under your state’s specific guidelines. Ideal for golfers who want to elevate their presence and prepare for future NIL success.

Pitch for Partnerships
For golfers ready to learn how to pitch to businesses with confidence
This course shows junior golfers exactly how to approach businesses the right way. Athletes learn how to identify good-fit brands, craft a professional pitch, communicate their value, and understand what a partnership should and should not look like while still under your state’s specific rules. A practical, golf-specific guide for athletes who want to develop real-world skills they can use in high school, college, and beyond.

Understanding NIL: What Every Athlete and Parent Needs to Know
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has transformed youth, high school, and college sports. The rules continue to evolve, giving athletes new opportunities to earn income from their personal brand – while also introducing responsibilities they must understand to protect their eligibility. That’s why we’ve partnered with Influential Athlete, the premier NIL education company, to provide clear, trusted guidance and support for all our members. NIL can open the door to everything from small earning opportunities that help make school more affordable to life-changing income that supports an athlete or their family. But with these opportunities come important rules, requirements, and boundaries. Whether an athlete chooses to pursue NIL or not, NIL is now part of the athlete experience and knowing how it works is essential.

What Is NIL?
NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness – essentially an athlete’s personal brand.
NIL allows student-athletes to earn money with their brand from things like:
– Social media posts
– Brand partnerships
– Coaching at camps, clinics, and making appearances
– Selling merchandise or autographs
– Business ventures tied to their identity as an athlete
And they can do all of this without losing their eligibility, as long as they follow the rules.

Recent NIL Changes You Should Know
The NIL landscape continues to shift quickly. Here are the most important updates:

1. High School Athletes in California are able profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). California was a pioneer in the NIL space, effectively becoming the first
state to allow high schoolers to monetize their Name, Image, and Likeness. While most people associate NIL with the 2019 Fair Pay to Play Act (which originally focused on college athletes), the landscape shifted for high schoolers shortly after.
How It Came to Be

• The Supreme Court Factor: In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in NCAA v. Alston. While the case specifically targeted NCAA restrictions, the Court’s stance – that “amateurism” cannot be used as a blanket shield to prevent athletes from earning money – sent shockwaves down to the high school level.
• CIF Response: Shortly after that ruling, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) confirmed that their existing bylaws already permitted NIL activities, provided the students followed specific guidelines.
• The Timeline: While many states are just now catching up, California high schoolers have been legally allowed to sign NIL deals since 2021.

2. Increased Reporting & Compliance Requirements
With greater earning opportunities comes stricter oversight.
Athletes must now:

• Report any NIL deal worth more than $600 (only if an athlete is in college or plans to attend an NCAA Division I school)
  o If this applies to you, the reporting of deals can be done at nilgo.com
  o Expect potential third-party review of contracts
• Report all deals to any school you’ve committed to, or at least ask about their disclosure policy and what you need to do to remain compliant
• Ask your high school athletic director if there is anything you need to know about disclosing your deal to your school. Remember, all schools can have their own policy within the state or athletic association’s policy.

Why NIL Education Matters – Even If an Athlete Never Plans to Pursue NIL
Every athlete is now part of the NIL world, whether they pursue deals or not.
Understanding NIL is essential because:

• Rules are changing fast, and violations can impact eligibility
• Bad actors exist, and athletes who aren’t informed are more vulnerable
• Parents need clarity so they can help guide their athlete safely
• Proper understanding protects athletes, their reputations, and their future
  opportunities

Our NIL Education Partner
To ensure our members have access to accurate, trustworthy, expert-led information, we’ve partnered exclusively with Influential Athlete, the leader in NIL education for schools, associations, and athletic organizations nationwide. All NIL education provided to our members comes directly from Influential Athlete to ensure consistent, high-quality guidance.
You can learn more about the founders and their expertise below or visit their website
influentialathlete.com