It is never too early for student athletes and their parents to start educating themselves on Name Image Likeness (NIL) deals.

As the parent of a student athlete, understanding and preparing for Name Image Likeness (NIL) deals is now an essential part of the college sports journey. To ensure that both student athletes and their families make informed decisions during the junior and senior year in high school, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. First and foremost, familiarize yourself with the Interim NCAA NIL policy. The new policy allows student athletes to capitalize off their name, image and likeness while still maintaining their amateur status.

2. Moreover, be sure to research any state laws that could be applicable as these may impact your child’s opportunity to negotiate deals.

3. When it comes to the policies of the college or university that the student may attend, be sure to understand any specific rules they have concerning NIL agreements. A college or university's policy may require specific actions beyond what the NCAA's Interim NIL policy states so it's important to know what you're getting into before making a commitment.

4. Next, explore ways for your child to build their own brand as these will come in handy when evaluating potential interest from sponsors. This can include creating an online presence through social media channels as well as trying out different projects related to their sport or outside interests such as blogging or podcasting which can further showcase their value outside of just playing sports.

5. Finally, consider getting in contact with an attorney who is knowledgable and willing to assist with contract review and negotiations. Some of these deals can become complex when involving intellectual property or other issues. An experienced lawyer can ask critical questions about terms included within agreement and help ensure that everything is above board before signing any documents.

By keeping these key points in mind when preparing for NIL deals during junior and senior year of high school, student athletes and parents will have greater success navigating this complicated process while ensuring longterm success in college sports along the way.