NIL

Texas NIL Parent Education Initiative

Clarity for Texas Families in the NIL Era

The Go-To Resource for Texas Parents Navigating College NIL

NIL has changed college athletics. But for most Texas families, the noise — not the rules — is the real problem. This initiative delivers honest, Texas-specific guidance grounded in UIL policy, NCAA governance, and three decades of college athletics experience.

Get the Book → Request a Workshop

Now Available — New Parental Guide

NIL for
Texas Parents

The new book by Tom Burnett — Former NCAA Conference Commissioner

What NIL actually is — and what it isn't — in plain language
Texas-specific rules: UIL, state law, and ISD policies
How to evaluate recruiting in an NIL world
Revenue sharing explained for high school families
Financial literacy, taxes, and smart boundaries
A 6-step Parent Action Plan for the NIL era

Order on Amazon →

ISBN 9798249188597 · Southwest Sports Partners, LLC · Frisco, TX

The Problem

Why Texas Parents Feel Overwhelmed by NIL

NIL information arrives in fragments — from social media, sideline conversations, and national headlines. Most of it is incomplete. Some is wrong. And all of it creates pressure where none should exist.

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Fragmented Information

Parents piece together NIL knowledge from social media posts, secondhand stories, and national headlines — none of which are designed for Texas families navigating high school rules.

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Misapplied Rules

College-level NIL freedoms don't automatically apply to high school athletes. UIL governs Texas high school athletics, and those rules create meaningful guardrails families need to understand first.

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Unnecessary Urgency

Families feel pressured to act — hire advisors, form entities, build brands — before any real activity exists. That urgency rarely reflects reality. It reflects noise.

The Initiative

Four Pillars Built for Texas Families

The Texas NIL Parent Education Initiative is structured around four interconnected pillars — each designed to meet families where they are and give them what they actually need.

The Book — NIL for Texas Parents

The cornerstone resource. Written specifically for parents, separating headlines from reality across all 13 chapters — from UIL basics to revenue sharing, social media, financial literacy, and a clear parent action plan.

Available on Amazon

Parent Workshops & Presentations

Live sessions for parent groups, booster organizations, and athletic families. Available as 60-minute workshops, 30-minute district overviews, open Q&A panels, and multi-school symposiums.

Book a Session

School District Support

Dedicated frameworks for Texas Independent School Districts. Helping athletic directors, counselors, and administrators answer NIL questions with confidence — and stay current as policies evolve.

District Partnerships

Digital Resources & Policy Updates

A growing library of Texas-specific resources — policy summaries, parent guides, NIL glossary, FAQ, and ongoing newsletter updates as UIL, NCAA, and College Sports Commission guidance develops.

Statewide Access

What We Cover

Every Question Texas Parents Are Actually Asking

The book and workshops are built around the real conversations happening in Texas — on sidelines, in booster meetings, and around kitchen tables before recruiting decisions are made.

Why NIL Feels Confusing

Understanding why the noise is loud — and why most urgency is manufactured.

What NIL Actually Is (and Isn't)

Plain-language definitions. Separating NIL from pay-for-play, recruiting inducements, and scholarships.

The Texas-Specific Landscape

UIL rules, Texas law, and why comparing to other states often misleads families.

High School Eligibility & NIL Boundaries

What families can and cannot do. Where trouble most often begins — and how to avoid it.

The People Around NIL

Advisors, collectives, marketing reps. Who helps, who adds pressure, and what to ask any of them.

The Parent's Role Has Changed

How parental involvement should evolve — avoiding both over-management and complete withdrawal.

Most Common NIL Mistakes

Acting too early, confusing attention with opportunity, letting NIL drive recruiting decisions.

Social Media & Branding Reality

What coaches actually notice. Why visibility doesn't equal value — and what matters more.

Recruiting in an NIL World

The anchoring question every family should ask before committing to a school.

When Professional Help Makes Sense

The timing test for legal, financial, and marketing representation. What shouldn't come early.

Revenue Sharing Explained

How it differs from NIL. What families need to understand now — without overreacting to a still-developing structure.

Financial Literacy & Taxes

Documentation, tax obligations, and the 3-part framework when money enters the picture.

Tom Burnett

Former NCAA Conference Commissioner

🏆 Nearly 20 years as Southland Conference Commissioner — longest-tenured leader in league history

🎓 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee Chair — oversaw March Madness & Final Four

📊 Led a conference of 19 varsity sports serving nearly 5,000 student-athletes

✉️ Tom@nilfortexasparents.com

About the Author

Three Decades Inside College Athletics — Now Serving Texas Families

Tom Burnett's career placed him at the center of college athletics governance during one of its most transformative eras. As a conference commissioner, he navigated media rights negotiations, governance reform, revenue distribution oversight, and championship administration — gaining firsthand insight into how policy, recruiting, finance, and athlete development intersect.

When NIL transformed college athletics, Tom recognized something most families were missing: the gap between what the headlines said and what actually applied. NIL for Texas Parents — and this initiative — grew from that recognition.

Tom brings something rare to this conversation: not just experience inside the system, but the perspective of a Texas parent of two recent college graduates.

"Understanding creates calm. Calm creates better decisions. And better decisions, over time, create opportunity."

— Tom Burnett, Texas NIL Parent Education Initiative

Workshops & Speaking

Bringing Clarity to Your School or District

Tom Burnett is available to speak at parent meetings, booster events, district-wide programs, and community education sessions across Texas. Every presentation is grounded in current UIL and NCAA policy — not speculation.

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60-Minute Parent Workshop

Comprehensive · Ideal for Booster Club Nights & Virtual Meetings

A full overview of NIL basics, Texas-specific UIL rules, recruiting guidance, and the parent action plan. Leaves families with concrete takeaways and confidence to navigate NIL conversations calmly.

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30-Minute District Overview

Concise · For Athletic Staff, Counselors & Administrators

Policy-focused and staff-ready. Equips district personnel to answer NIL questions with confidence and refer families to appropriate resources without legal exposure.

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Q&A Panel Session

Open Forum · Addresses Family-Specific Questions

A brief presentation followed by open Q&A. Designed for audiences who want direct answers to the specific questions their families are facing — particularly effective during recruiting season.

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Multi-School Symposium

Half-Day Event · Multiple Schools or District-Wide

A comprehensive half-day event for multiple schools or an entire district. Includes sport-specific and grade-level breakout sessions, giving families the most relevant guidance for their athlete's exact situation.

Ready to Bring This to Your School or District?

Contact the Texas NIL Parent Education Initiative directly to discuss availability, formats, and how to bring NIL clarity to your community. Based in Frisco, Texas — serving schools statewide.

Request a Session →

Policy Foundation

Grounded in the Rules That Actually Govern Texas

Every resource in this initiative is developed with direct reference to the governing bodies that set the rules for Texas student-athletes — not just national headlines.

University Interscholastic League (UIL)

The primary governance body for Texas high school athletics. UIL regulations shape eligibility standards, NIL permissions, and competitive balance for all Texas high school student-athletes.

Texas State Law

State legislation defines NIL permissions and constraints at both high school and college levels within Texas — creating a framework that may differ from other states' approaches.

Individual ISDs

District-level policies may impose additional guardrails on student NIL activity. Understanding your own district's specific standards is essential before any activity begins.

NCAA & College Sports Commission

Governs college-level NIL and the emerging revenue-sharing landscape. Directly relevant for families making college recruiting and enrollment decisions.

Individual Institutions

University-specific NIL policies, compliance frameworks, and oversight structures vary by school. Families benefit from understanding institutional specifics before committing.

Our Commitment to Currency

NIL policy is still evolving. The initiative monitors all governing bodies and updates program content as guidelines change — so families always receive current, accurate guidance.

Why This Approach Works

Built on What Actually Endures

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Clarity Over Urgency

Every resource is designed to reduce pressure, not amplify it. Families who understand what applies — and what doesn't — make steadier, better decisions.

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Texas First, Always

National headlines describe a different landscape. This initiative leads with what governs here: UIL rules, Texas law, and the culture of Texas high school athletics.

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Development at the Center

NIL follows growth — it doesn't create it. Every recommendation keeps athletic and academic development at the foundation, where it has always belonged.

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Credibility Without Agenda

Built on three decades inside college athletics, not speculation or sales pressure. Information families can trust because it comes from someone who's seen the full system from the inside.

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Parents as Stabilizers

Parental involvement in the NIL era isn't interference — it's stewardship. This initiative equips parents to be steady, informed presences at the moments that matter most.

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Policy-Grounded Guidance

Everything references the actual rules — UIL, Texas law, NCAA governance, and institutional policy. Not assumptions. Not hearsay. Not what worked somewhere else.