'Tip a Player' to Provide Innovative Approach to NIL Compensation
Tip a Player (TAP) - an online financial platform to support student-athletes - officially launched this past week, enabling fans to send money to individual athletes and teams that compete at the Division I level.
Any money donated to an athlete or team on the platform initially stays with TAP. From there, TAP reaches out to the athlete(s) to sign a standard, non-exclusive endorsement contract. The contract requires the athlete(s) to execute one promotional commitment per month for TAP. Thereafter, TAP pays the athlete(s) any money that has been collected in their name in a monthly distribution.
"Tip a Player, or TAP, is the easiest way to financially support college athletes," said Tip a Player CEO Eric Duncan. "TAP exists to connect fans with all the players and teams they love to support, and our slogan is simple: 'Send money. They've earned it.'"
Supporters can send money in the name of individual players or to an entire team on the TAP website. Payments made to specific players' names are divided between the individual player (90%) and the team (10%), so that every player on the team can benefit when only one of their teammates is paid.
"All college athletes should benefit from NIL, but too many players are being left out," Duncan added. "By including every player on a team, not just star players at big schools, TAP intends to bring NIL to everyone who wants to participate."
At launch, 57,000 athletes at 360 schools across several sports have individual pages featured on the TAP website. Forty-five athletes have signed contracts, including Alabama-Birmingham Football's Amare Thomas.
Marcus Tubbs – former all-conference football player at Texas and NFL first round pick – and Katelynn Flaherty Yates – former basketball star at Michigan – serve on TAP's advisory board.
"Having spent the majority of my life around sports, I believe TAP understands the needs of student-athletes and is committed to providing resources that can make a difference in so many lives," said Tubbs.
"Tip a Player is the best way that I've seen for players without established NIL deals to receive financial support," said Flaherty Yates. "Finally, there is a way for NIL to impact players on all teams at all schools."
