In Wake of Dramatic Shift in Rules About Student-Athlete Compensation, Boston College Creates SOAR Program

It has been a turbulent time in the NCAAA over the past month. A unanimous decision from the nation’s high court has set in motion a reckoning in the NCAA and its compensation structure.

The collegiate sports world saw the first movement of the new era of collegiate athletics. Effective today, the NCAA suspended its rules prohibiting student-athletes from selling rights to name, image and likeness, also known as NIL.

The shift in the NCAA comes amidst a push both at the federal and state level to allow for NIL compensation. In a number of states, laws took effect making the prohibition of NIL compensation illegal, so the shift in the NCAA rules are designed to prevent disparity based on jurisdiction while a handful of bipartisan bills meander their way through the federal legislative system.

In light of this, Boston College announced the SOAR Program, a program designed to help student-athletes at BC to capitalize on their NIL opportunities. The department noted that content will be supplied by the institution to help with brand creation.

“The SOAR program will give our student-athletes all the tools to help them reach their full potential in regards to building their brand and maximizing their opportunities in the NIL space,” said William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Pat Kraft. “Being in a world-class city like Boston presents so many unique opportunities for our student-athletes to take advantage of, and provides them with the education and support to thrive in this new marketplace.”

This is obviously a developing situation, with NIL legislation developing across the country and a high court that has already shown skepticism for the NCAA’s business model. This first move in the compensation sphere will almost certainly not be the last the NCAA will need to go through, and it’s a smart move by Boston College to keep up with the change.