International College Athletes’ Perceptions of NIL and its Impact on Their Experiences: A Theory of Capital Approach

The name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy altered the landscape of college sports and provided college athletes with new opportunities to monetize their talents and personal brands. However, while the NCAA stated that all athletes would be able to participate in NIL deals and be compensated for the use of their NIL, international college athletes (ICAs) soon discovered they were restricted from participation while located in the U.S., due to their student visa status. Through nine semi-structured interviews of current and former ICAs we identified themes related to Bourdieu’s theory of social capital and Bauder’s theory of citizenship capital that covered legal issues associated with participating, pay-for-play, segregation, and team commitment. Findings of the study show that ICAs are at a disadvantage with their development opportunities, missing out on experiences such as contract negotiation and chances to grow their net worth. Additionally, we note that the different access to opportunities for international and domestic athletes could lead to team or athletic department conflict. We suggest that athletic departments focus on programming that enhances international college athletes’ capital to mitigate disparities between domestic and international athletes.