College volleyball recruiting is undergoing one of the most rapid transformations in the sport’s history. As University of Minnesota Head Volleyball Coach Keegan Cook emphasized in a presentation to Club Recruiting Coordinators, the pace of change in college athletics has outstripped the pace of communication. That gap is where confusion and misinformation develop.
For families navigating the recruiting process, understanding NIL versus revenue sharing is essential. Recruiting Coordinators must also guide Prospective Student-Athletes to prioritize overall fit, not just financial opportunities.
Before addressing financial considerations, it is critical to understand the broader recruiting landscape.
Then (Old Model)
- Early verbal commitments, often as early as middle school
- Frequent, ongoing communication with college Coaches
- In-person visits as a primary decision driver
- Relationship-driven recruiting process
Now (Current Model)
- No direct communication with college Coaches until June 15 following the sophomore year
- Official and unofficial visits begin August 1 of the junior year
- Camps replacing early recruiting interactions
- Less early relationship-building, with increased pressure later in the process
What This Means
When communication opens, the process becomes faster, more intense, and more transactional. This is where NIL and revenue sharing enter the conversation.
NIL: Still About the Athlete’s Market Value
NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) remains what most families understand, but it is becoming more regulated.
What NIL Looks Like Today
Athletes can earn compensation from:
- Corporate sponsors
- Local businesses
- Donor-backed collectives
But under the new framework:
- Deals over $600 must be reviewed
- Compensation must reflect “true NIL value”
- Activities tied to payment are called “activations” (e.g., posts, appearances, camps)
A key player in this system is Deloitte, which is helping verify deals through a system called NIL Go, the official platform for NCAA D1 student-athletes to report third-party NIL deals, and enforcement is shifting toward the College Sports Commission.
What This Means for Volleyball Players
For most volleyball athletes:
- NIL opportunities will be real but legitimate
- Local relationships and personal reputation carry more value than social media following
- Promises of significant deals should be evaluated with caution
Revenue Sharing: The Biggest Shift Families Aren’t Fully Grasping
Revenue sharing is fundamentally different and has greater long-term impact.
What It Is
Revenue sharing is:
- A direct agreement between the school and the Student-Athlete
- Structured through a contract called a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
- Funded by athletic department revenue
Schools can distribute up to $20.5 million annually across their Student-Athletes.
The Key Difference
- NIL is external and market-driven
- Revenue sharing is internal and school-controlled
You can think of revenue sharing as schools “purchasing” an athlete’s NIL rights directly.
The Volleyball Reality: Not All Sports Are Treated Equally
Here is where families must stay grounded.
Even with revenue sharing:
- Football and basketball will receive the largest allocations
- Volleyball programs will receive smaller shares
- Distribution will vary significantly by institution
So while revenue sharing sounds like a major payday, for volleyball it will likely be:
- Supplemental
- Inconsistent across programs
- Still evolving
June 15: Where This Appears in Recruiting Conversations
June 15 following the sophomore year is a critical inflection point, and the tone of recruiting conversations is changing.
Families should expect:
- A surge of communication immediately when contact opens
- More total offers, with fewer from top-tier programs early in the process
- Conversations that include specific NIL and revenue sharing details, which are permissible
There are also risks.
Watch for These Red Flags
- “Packaging” or “marketing” of financial opportunities that appear inflated
- References to past NIL deals that may not be permissible under current rules
- Pressure tactics, including short decision timelines or competing offer scenarios
A stated number is not a guarantee and may not reflect a realistic outcome.
Major Recruiting Trends Impacting Your Athlete
The financial changes don’t exist in a vacuum—they’re tied to bigger roster trends.
1. The Transfer Portal Is Reshaping Rosters
- Hundreds of Student-Athletes enter the transfer portal each year, with recent cycles exceeding 600 entrants annually.
- Power conferences such as the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference average three or more transfers per roster per year.
Impact:
High school recruits are no longer the only pipeline. College-ready transfers are now competing for roster spots at every level. As a result, an athlete’s perceived value coming out of high school is often weighed against transfer Student-Athletes who bring collegiate experience, statistics, and competitive accomplishments.
2. International Recruiting Is Increasing Rapidly
Programs are aggressively recruiting global talent, including athletes such as:
- Italy → Nebraska
- Serbia → Oregon, Texas A&M
- Poland → Georgia Tech
- Netherlands → Pitt
Impact:
Student-Athletes are now competing not only nationally, but globally for roster opportunities at the collegiate level.
3. The Future: Continued Professionalization
Based on current trends, expect:
- Increased international recruiting across more programs
- NIL representation and advisory presence at tournaments
- Recruiting services expanding into NIL guidance and representation functions
- Potential adjustments to recruiting timelines, with continued pressure toward later evaluation periods
- Stronger integration between club programs, collegiate programs, and professional pathways
How Families Should Approach This (Practically)
This is where families can take control of the conversation by asking more precise, informed questions.
1. Ask Better Questions
Instead of asking, “How much NIL can my athlete make?” focus on program-specific realities:
- “What does NIL look like for your Volleyball Student-Athletes today?”
- “How is revenue sharing structured and allocated within your program?”
- “What percentage of your roster typically receives NIL or revenue sharing opportunities?”
2. Focus on What’s Realistic
For most Volleyball Student-Athletes:
- NIL opportunities generally range from hundreds to a few thousand dollars, depending on market size, visibility, and local engagement
- Revenue sharing remains unclear in structure and is likely modest at most programs
- Scholarships require a full financial breakdown, including cost of attendance versus the actual value of the offer. Families should evaluate what is included, such as tuition, fees, room, board, and any additional support, alongside any NIL or revenue sharing components
Programs that suggest higher financial packages should be asked to provide clear, specific, and verifiable structure.
3. Don’t Let Money Override Fit
This environment can make recruiting feel transactional, but the fundamentals remain unchanged:
- Development
- Playing time opportunity
- Coaching fit
- Academic alignment
The key takeaway for families is this:
NIL and revenue sharing are not shortcuts. They are layers that sit on top of:
- Talent
- Fit
- Timing
- Opportunity
Families who navigate this landscape effectively will not chase numbers alone. They will understand how the system operates, ask more precise questions, and make decisions based on long-term outcomes rather than short-term promises.
Watch NIL 101 for Club Volleyball: Tools and Information to Equip Club Leaders
View more resources for volleyball players.
