Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) are the three elements that make up a legal concept know as “rights of publicity.” These are identifiable to you – who you are – and what any individual can sell to promote a product or service.
- Name – Literally your name; allowing your name to be associated with a product or service for profit
- Image – Your face, body and appearance; allowing your physical or virtual self to be associated with a product or service for profit
- Likeness – A portrait or representation; allowing yourself to be used in products as a portrayal of your image
Loudoun Soccer/Northern Virginia Alliance are the first elite youth soccer club in the country to partner with Opendorse to provide NIL resources for our members.
What is Opendorse?
- Opendorse is the industry leading NIL platform and service that helps athletes and families understand, build, protect, and monetize their name, image and likeness.
- We have partnered with Opendorse to provide NIL education resources and seminars for our members.
- We have invested in a curated NIL Marketplace where local companies can connect with our members for NIL sponsorships.
What are the state rules and platform requirements?
- VHSL (Virginia High School League) and MPSSAA (Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association) allow student-athletes to profit off their NIL and maintain their eligibility.
- WVSSAC (West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission) prohibit student-athletes from monetizing their NIL.
- The minimum age is 13 to use Opendorse, in accordance with most social media platforms.
- Athletes must have a parent/guardian on their account/agreeing to their deals until they turn 18.
Please review the images below for frequently asked questions about NIL:
Please reach out to your coach if you have any questions about NIL or the Opendorse platform.
Here’s how to get the DMV community involved:
Loudoun Soccer Club collaborates with Opendorse to support athletes’ NIL opportunities in first-of-its-kind partnership
Virginia High School League approves rule change; youth athletes can now monetize NIL.
August 3, 2023 Leesburg, VA: Loudoun Soccer Club, the Virginia-based youth soccer club, announced today a partnership with Opendorse to support club student-athletes in maximizing name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities.
Loudoun Soccer Executive Director Colin Smith explained: “The reality is that High School NIL is here, and as a leader in youth sports it’s incumbent upon us to adapt. Our affiliation with Opendorse will help educate and guide our families through this new landscape, and provide opportunities for players who opt to pursue them.”
More than 100,000 athletes use Opendorse to build and monetize their name, image, and likeness with support from hundreds of colleges and thousands of brands, fans, donors, and partners. The new relationship with Opendorse makes Loudoun Soccer the first elite soccer club marketplace on the platform.
The collaboration will provide elite players with full access to Opendorse’s all-in-one content, compliance, and education tools. In addition, every Loudoun Soccer athlete will receive an Opendorse profile, which they can customize and promote to fans on their personal social media channels. Athletes review opportunities, receive deals, accept compensation, and disclose NIL activities to their institution, all within the Opendorse app.
“Loudoun Soccer is setting the standard for what it means to prepare athletes to be successful,” said Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence. “These elite athletes now can maximize their NIL opportunities and gain experience all before entering college. I’m proud that Opendorse can play a small role in setting these athletes up for success on their NIL journey.”
The Virginia High School League approved the new rule, which went into effect on July 1, 2023, to allow high school athletes to participate in NIL deals.
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