A GuardNIL Publication

July 2026

The Sideline

For the family behind the athlete. Plain-language guides for parents navigating NIL: what the rules actually say, how the money works, how to spot a bad deal, and how to raise an athlete who is ready for all of it.

A father and his athlete son walk off a practice field together at sunset

Raising Athletes

How to Teach Your Athlete Financial Literacy (Without a Finance Degree)

·7 min read
A teenager's hands divide cash between kraft envelopes on a yellow background beside a key and a whistle

Raising Athletes

The Allowance Approach: Teaching Money Skills Before the First NIL Deal

·7 min read
A student climbs the wide stone steps of a columned university building

Money and Taxes

Will NIL Income Affect My Child's Scholarship or Financial Aid?

·7 min read
A hand hovers over a glowing phone lying on a bed in a dark room

Contracts and Deals

NIL Scams: 7 Red Flags Before Your Kid Signs Anything

·7 min read

The Latest

A mother and her teenage son lean toward a phone together in the front seats of a parked car at night

Contracts and Deals

10 Questions to Ask Before Your Athlete Signs an NIL Deal

A parent-friendly checklist of the ten questions that separate a solid NIL contract from an expensive lesson, covering pay, rights, exits, and taxes.

·7 min read
A parent's hands hold a pen over a receipt beside a coffee cup in a neon-lit diner at night

Money and Taxes

Is NIL Money Taxable? What Parents Need to Know Before April

Yes, NIL money is taxable, usually as self-employment income. Here is what that means for your athlete's return, quarterly payments, and how much to set aside.

·7 min read
Fans watch from the stands of a college football stadium at dusk as floodlights glow over a misty field

Money and Taxes

How Much Money Do College Athletes Actually Make From NIL?

The reported average NIL deal pays around $1,300, but the median is about $65. Here is what that gap means, and what your athlete should realistically expect.

·7 min read
A high school athlete with a gym bag walks down a locker-lined hallway toward a bright doorway

NIL Basics

Can High School Athletes Sign NIL Deals? What Parents Need to Know

In most states, yes, high school athletes can sign NIL deals in some form. But the rules are set state by state, and the details decide your athlete's eligibility.

·7 min read
A signed basketball and a leather notebook rest in separate groups on a dark table under a shaft of window light

NIL Basics

NIL vs. Pay-for-Play: What's the Actual Difference?

NIL pays athletes for the use of their identity. Pay-for-play pays them for athletic performance. One is allowed, one is not, and the line matters for eligibility.

·7 min read
A college athlete ties his shoes alone on empty gym bleachers as morning light falls through high windows

NIL Basics

What Is NIL? A Parent's Guide to Name, Image, and Likeness

NIL stands for name, image, and likeness: the right of athletes to earn money from their personal brand. Here is what that means for your family, in plain English.

·9 min read